JP2000174889A - Communications equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to make a callback to an opposite party having when there is made an emergency message without the need for troublesome operations or the like by the user in the case or the like that the emergency message is recorded at the end of received messages in the communication equipment having a caller ID function, an automatic answering function and a callback function. SOLUTION: When a callback button of an entry section 7 is depressed while message are being reproduced, a main control section 9 discriminates a message that is reproduced at that time to be a message requiring a callback, stores callback data such as a caller telephone number, a date and time when the incoming call arrives, and a history of the caller to a prescribed area of a RAM. Thereafter, when reproduction of all the messages is finished after that and the callback button of the entry section 7 is depressed, the main control section 9 makes dialing, on the basis of the callback data stored in the prescribed area of the RAM.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication apparatus having a caller ID function, an answering machine function, and a callback function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a communication apparatus having a caller ID function, an answering machine function, and a callback function, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-277352, the arrival time, caller The telephone number and the message from the caller are sequentially stored, and the incoming information is displayed and the message is reproduced in response to a predetermined request from the user. There has been proposed a configuration in which a caller is automatically called back in response to a predetermined request, thereby making it possible to reduce the trouble of a call operation.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, it is necessary to sequentially display incoming information and reproduce the message, and to call back each time as necessary. Because it takes a long time to play,
There is a problem that a problem occurs when there is an urgent matter at the end, etc. In order to prevent such a problem from occurring, it is necessary to play back all the matters before calling back If you play back the call and call it back, you may forget that you need to call back, and even if you remember, you need to search for the message that needs callback There is a problem that a complicated operation is required for the user.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a callback for a desired task while suppressing the occurrence of a trouble when an urgent task is at the end or a troublesome operation by a user. It is an object to provide a communication device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a caller ID function for receiving caller information arriving from a communication line at the time of an incoming call, and an incoming call signal from the communication line. A communication device having an automatic answering function and an answering machine function for storing a message sent from the other party in association with the caller information, and a callback function for making a call based on the caller information, When a predetermined request by the user is received during playback of the message stored by the answering machine function, the message being played back is extracted as a message requiring callback, and after the message playback is completed, the Control means for operating the above-mentioned callback function based on the extraction result is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, a voice recognition means for recognizing a predetermined voice input is provided, and the control means is configured to control the voice recognition based on an output from the voice recognition means. Is to determine whether or not a predetermined request has been made by the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, when the control means determines that there is a predetermined request from a user based on an output from the voice recognition means, It notifies that the request has been accepted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the control means extracts a matter requiring a callback, the control means extracts a message from the user. While the ranking is performed on the requirements based on the predetermined request, the callback is activated based on the extraction result and the rank.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the control means extracts a message being reproduced as a message requiring callback. Then, the reproduction of the message is interrupted and the next message is reproduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the control means displays the extraction results in a list, and selects the extraction result based on the list display. In this case, a call is made by the above-mentioned callback function for the requested business.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the sixth aspect, when the control means selects a plurality of tasks based on the list display, the control means selects the plurality of selected tasks. Calls are sequentially made by the callback function for the case.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the sixth or seventh aspect, the control means uses the callback function for the task selected based on the list display. When a call is made, the selected message is reproduced.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any of the sixth to eighth aspects, the control means makes a call based on the extraction result by the callback function. At this time, information indicating that the callback has been completed is stored in association with the message that made the call, and whether or not the callback has been completed for each message is displayed in the list display. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to eighth aspects, the control means makes a call based on the extraction result by the callback function. At this time, the business that made the call is excluded from the extraction result.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to eighth aspects, the control means makes a call based on the extraction result by the callback function. At this time, the call originating message and information relating thereto are deleted.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined request is received by the user during the reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function, the control means calls the reproduced message. While extracting as a necessary business of the back,
By activating the callback function based on the extraction result after the reproduction of the message, it is possible to reproduce all the messages and then perform the callback for the desired message.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined voice input is recognized by the voice recognition unit during reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function, the control unit issues a predetermined request from the user. By judging that there is, and extracting the currently reproduced message as a message requiring a callback, the message requiring a callback can be extracted by the user's voice.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined voice input is recognized by the voice recognition unit during reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function, the control unit issues a predetermined request from the user. It is determined that there is a request, and the message being played is extracted as a message requiring a callback, and by notifying that the request has been received, the extraction of the message requiring a callback is performed by the user's voice. It can be performed, and the confirmation can be easily performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when extracting an item requiring a callback, the control means ranks the item based on a predetermined request from a user, By operating the callback based on the extraction result and the rank, it is possible to give priority to important matters and to perform the callback.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a message being reproduced is extracted as a message requiring a callback, the control means suspends reproduction of the message and resumes reproduction of the next message. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the time required to reproduce the message.

According to the present invention, the control means displays the extraction result in a list, and makes the call selected by the callback function for the business selected on the basis of the list display. Callbacks can be made in this order.

According to the invention described in claim 7, when a plurality of messages are selected based on the list display, the control means sequentially calls the plurality of selected messages by the callback function. By doing so, callback can be performed in any order and continuously.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when a call is made by the callback function to the message selected based on the list display, the control means reproduces the selected message. This makes it possible to easily reconfirm the requirements before the callback.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when a call is made based on the result of the extraction by the callback function, the control means indicates that the callback has been completed in association with the business that made the call. While information is stored, whether or not callback has been completed for each message is displayed in the list display, so that it is possible to easily confirm whether or not callback has been performed for a message requiring callback. .

According to the tenth aspect, when a call is made based on the extraction result by the callback function,
Since the control unit excludes the call originating message from the extraction result, it is possible to save time and effort for erasure based on an operation by the user.

According to the eleventh aspect, when a call is made based on the extraction result by the callback function,
Since the control means deletes the call originating message and the information related thereto, it is possible to save the trouble of deleting the message based on the operation by the user.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an electric configuration of a cordless telephone as an embodiment of the communication apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing operation control at the time of playing back a message in the cordless telephone. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation control at the time of callback in the cordless telephone, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of displaying callback data in the cordless telephone.

A cordless telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a master unit, 2 denotes a communication line connected to a partner communication device via an exchange (not shown),
Reference numeral 3 denotes a line control unit that captures / releases the communication line 2 and performs data transmission / reception and communication. The line control circuit 3 captures / releases the communication line 2, a dialer that performs dial transmission, and a call that comes from the communication line 2. Caller information receiving circuit for receiving caller information, a call circuit for enabling a call with the communication device of the other party via the communication line 2, and signal detection for detecting a call signal and a call termination signal coming from the communication line 2. And a handset for making a call with the communication device of the other party via the call circuit.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an answering machine for automatically responding to an incoming signal from the communication line 2 and storing the message sent from the communication device of the other party, and a voice synthesizer for converting the stored voice data into a voice signal. A circuit, a message storage circuit for storing the message,
It is composed of a microphone that collects external sounds and a speaker that emits ringtones, playback sounds, and the like to the outside.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a voice recognition unit for extracting and determining meaningful information from the voice information. Reference numeral 6 denotes a radio unit for communicating with the slave unit 20, which receives a radio wave and converts a signal modulated by a transmission / reception circuit. An antenna that emits radio waves into the air, a transmission / reception circuit that demodulates the radio waves obtained by the antenna to generate a reception signal, modulates a signal in a predetermined frequency band and transmits the signal, and outputs a signal received by the transmission / reception circuit as a sound. And a baseband that performs predetermined signal processing on the audio signal and sends the signal to the transmission / reception circuit.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an input unit including function buttons and dial buttons for setting and registering various functions, 8 denotes a display unit for displaying characters and images, and 9 denotes a CPU and programs executed by the CPU. A main control unit including a stored ROM, a RAM, and the like, in which calculation results and the like in the CPU are stored;
These line control unit 3, answering machine 4, and voice recognition unit 5
, A radio unit 6, an input unit 7, a display unit 8, and a main control unit 9.
The parent machine 1 is constituted by the above.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a slave unit, and 21 denotes a radio unit for communicating with the master unit 1. The antenna receives radio waves and emits a signal modulated by a transmission / reception circuit to the air as a radio wave, and a radio wave obtained by the antenna. A transmission / reception circuit for generating a reception signal by demodulating the signal and modulating and transmitting a signal in a predetermined frequency band, and converting a signal received by the transmission / reception circuit into an audio signal and performing predetermined signal processing on the audio signal for transmission / reception. And a baseband transmitted to the circuit.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an input unit including function buttons and dial buttons for setting and registering various functions; 23, a display unit for displaying characters and images; and 24, a CPU and programs executed by the CPU. A main control unit including a stored ROM, a RAM for storing calculation results of the CPU, and the like. These wireless unit 21, input unit 22, and display unit 23
And the main control unit 24 constitute the slave unit 20.

Next, the operation of the cordless telephone configured as described above at the time of playing back a message will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the answering machine recording mode, the cordless telephone is associated with information such as an answering machine, a caller's telephone number, and an incoming date and time, and transmits the answering machine to the message storage circuit of the answering machine 4. Main telephone number and incoming date and time
Stored in the RAM.

In the standby state, in order to extract the necessity of the callback of the answering machine, first, the user presses the play button of the input unit 7, and the main control unit 9 detects the press of the play button. (Step a1), the main control unit 9 shifts to an answering machine record playback mode to enter an answering machine message playback mode,
The answering machine 4 is controlled to sequentially read the answering machine from the message storage circuit and reproduce it from the speaker (step a).
2).

At this time, the user determines that the call requires a callback, and presses the callback button of the input unit 7, and the main control unit 9 detects the press of the callback button ( In step a3), the main control unit 9 determines that the message played back when the callback button is pressed is a message requiring a callback, and stores data such as the caller telephone number, the date and time of the call and the history in the RAM. It is stored in the area (step a4).

When the dial key of the input unit 7 is pressed after the callback button of the input unit 7 is pressed, the number of the pressed dial key is changed to the caller's telephone number, the date and time of the call, the history, etc. May be stored in a predetermined area of the RAM together with the data of the input unit 7.
If the voice is collected by the microphone after the callback button is pressed, the collected voice may be stored in association with the extracted message.

On the other hand, when the main control unit 9 determines that the message being reproduced is completed (step s5), it is determined whether or not the completed message is the last message (step s5). a6) If it is determined that the message is not the last one, the next message is reproduced (step a7), and the above-described operation control is performed (steps a3 to a6). When the answer is determined, the answering machine record reproduction mode is ended and the apparatus shifts to the standby state.

Therefore, according to the above-described operation control, when the user makes a predetermined request during the reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function, the reproduced message is converted to the message requiring the callback. Can be extracted as

In the above-described operation control, a message requiring a callback is extracted in response to the pressing of the function button of the input unit 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In order to extract the necessity of the callback of the recording matter, first, the user utters “Matter reproduction” into the microphone, and when the voice is recognized by the voice recognition unit 5, the main control unit 9 The mode is shifted to the answering machine message reproduction mode, the answering machine message playing mode is set, the answering machine 4 is controlled, the answering machine messages are sequentially read out from the message storage circuit, and played back from the speaker. When the user determines that the message requires a callback, the speaker utters "Callback required" into the microphone, and when the voice is recognized by the voice recognition unit 5, the message being played back at the time of the recognition is recognized. Must call back It determines that such requirements, data such as caller's telephone number and call time and history may be stored in a predetermined area of the RAM, Similarly, "Urgent", "most important"
By recognizing voices such as "important", it may be possible to rank the tasks extracted as the ones that require a callback. When ranking,
It is preferable that the confirmation sound is emitted from the speaker every time the voice recognition is performed, so that the user can easily recognize that the request of the user has been accepted.

In the operation control described above, after the reproduction of the message is completed, the process is shifted to the next message reproduction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the rejection is determined, it may be possible to shift to the next message playback, and for the messages for which it is determined that there is no need for callback, the playback end point of each message or all messages The data may be automatically deleted when the reproduction is completed, or may be deleted by a user operation in the management mode of the answering machine function.

Next, an operation when a callback is performed based on the task extracted by the operation control will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3 and an explanatory diagram shown in FIG.

In the standby state, in order to perform a callback, first, the user presses the callback button of the input unit 7, and the main control unit 9 detects the press of the callback button (step b1). The main control unit 9 shifts to the callback mode, controls the display unit 8, reads out callback data from a predetermined area of the RAM, and as shown in FIG. Is displayed (step b2).

Incidentally, as for the display order of the callback data, when the callback data is ranked, the callback data may be arranged in the rank order, and the rank may be displayed. You may make it selectable.

On the other hand, when the callback data as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 8, the user presses the cursor key of the input unit 7, and the main control unit 9 presses the cursor key. Upon detection, the main control unit 9 sets the display unit 8
To move the cursor to the selection target (step b
2) After that, when the user presses the confirmation button of the input unit 7 and the main control unit 9 detects that the confirmation button is pressed,
The main control unit 9 determines that the callback is to be performed based on the callback data where the cursor was positioned when the confirmation button was pressed, and ends the selection (step b3).

When the user selects the callback target by pressing the cursor key of the input unit 7, the user presses the message playback button of the input unit 7, and the user presses the message playback button. When the control unit 9 detects the message, the answering unit 4 is controlled to read out the message corresponding to the callback data at which the cursor was positioned when the message playback button was pressed from the message storage circuit and reproduce the message from the speaker. Alternatively, if a voice is stored corresponding to the selected callback data, the voice may be emitted.

After the selection is completed, when the user presses the callback button of the input unit 7 or lifts the handset, and the main control unit 9 detects that, the main control unit 9 should call back. The telephone number, which is the caller information of the business, is read from a predetermined area of the RAM, and the telephone number of the callback partner is dialed by controlling the line control unit 3 (step b4).

Then, after dialing, the exchange connects to the other party's telephone, hears a ring back tone, and when the other party answers the telephone, the ring back tone stops and a call is made with the other party (step b5). When the call ends, the main control unit 9 adds data indicating that callback has been completed as a history of the callback data to be selected (step b6), ends the callback mode, shifts to the standby state, and returns to the other party. If the call cannot be made with the other party's phone because it is busy or does not answer the call (step b5), the call-back mode is ended without adding data as a history of the callback data and the apparatus stands by. Transition to the state.

After the dialing, the exchange connects to the other party's telephone and hears a ringback tone. When the other party answers the telephone, the ringback tone stops and the other party's telephone is connected. When the answering mode is set or there is no desired party and it is necessary to make a call again, before the call is hanged or within a predetermined time after the call is halted, the user presses the callback button of the input unit 7. Is pressed, and when the main control unit 9 detects that the callback button is pressed, data indicating that callback has been completed is not added as a history of the callback data to be selected, or the dialed telephone number and date and time are stored in RAM.
May be stored in a predetermined area.

Therefore, according to the above-described operation control, it is possible to cause all the messages to be reproduced and then call back the desired message.

In the above operation control, the callback is set to 1
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to select a plurality of messages and set the dialing order when selecting a callback message, and to switch to the next telephone number each time a call ends. Dialing may be performed. At this time, the selection of the callback message may be eliminated, and the dialing may be sequentially performed on all the messages extracted at the time of playing the message.

In the above-described operation control, when a call can be made by a callback, data indicating that the call has been completed is added as a history. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When it is possible, the callback data of the selected message may be deleted, and at this time, the message may also be deleted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the extraction and the callback are performed in the base unit 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The data may be stored in the message storage unit, and this data may be accessed from the child device 21 to perform extraction and callback in the child device 21.

[0057]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, during playback of a message stored by the answering machine function,
When a predetermined request is received by the user, the control means extracts the message being played back as a message requiring callback, and activates a callback function based on the extraction result after the message playback is completed. As a result, it is possible to make a callback for a desired message after all the messages have been reproduced, thereby causing a trouble when an urgent message is at the end and a trouble for the user. Callback can be performed for a desired task while suppressing the occurrence of an unnecessary operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined voice input is recognized by the voice recognition unit during reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function, the control unit issues a predetermined request from the user. By judging that there is a message, and extracting the message being played back as a message requiring a callback, the message requiring a callback can be extracted by a user's voice, so that the device is located beside the device. Even if you are not
The extraction can also be performed while doing other things.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined voice input is recognized by the voice recognition unit during reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function, the control unit issues a predetermined request from the user. It is determined that there is a request, and the message being played is extracted as a message requiring a callback, and by notifying that the request has been received, the extraction of the message requiring a callback is performed by the user's voice. Since it can be performed and the confirmation can be easily performed, it is possible to prevent a reception error due to utterance.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when extracting an item requiring a callback, the control means ranks the item based on a predetermined request from the user, By operating the callback based on the extraction result and the rank, it is possible to give priority to the important message and perform the callback, so that it is possible to prevent forgetting the callback of the important message.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a message being reproduced is extracted as a message requiring a callback, the control means interrupts the reproduction of the message and reproduces the next message. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the time required to reproduce the message, so that it is possible to save unnecessary time.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the control means displays the extraction result in a list and causes the call selected by the callback function to be performed for the selected item based on the list display. , The call can be made with priority.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of messages are selected based on the list display, the control means sequentially calls the plurality of selected messages by the callback function. By doing so, the callback can be performed in any order and continuously, so that the operation by the user can be reduced.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when a call is made by the callback function to a message selected based on the list display, the control means reproduces the selected message. By doing so, it is possible to easily reconfirm the requirements before the callback, so that the reason for the callback can be recognized in advance.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when a call is made based on the extraction result by the callback function, the control means indicates that the callback has been completed in association with the call originating message. While information is stored, whether or not callback has been completed for each message is displayed in the list display, so that it is possible to easily confirm whether or not callback has been performed for a message requiring callback. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the forgetting of the callback and the double callback being performed.

According to the tenth aspect, when a call is made based on the extraction result by the callback function,
Since the control unit excludes the call originating message from the extraction result, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of erasing based on the user's operation, thereby reducing the user's complicated operation and saving memory. Can be achieved.

According to the eleventh aspect, when a call is made based on the extraction result by the callback function,
Since the control means deletes the message that made the call and the information related thereto, it is possible to save the trouble of deleting the message based on the operation by the user, thereby reducing complicated operations by the user. Thus, the memory can be further saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a cordless telephone which is an embodiment of a communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing operation control at the time of playing back a task in the cordless telephone.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing operation control at the time of callback in the cordless telephone.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of callback data in the cordless telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Base unit 2 Communication line 3 Line control unit 4 Answering machine 5 Voice recognition unit 6 Radio unit 7 Input unit 8 Display unit 9 Main control unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page F term (reference)

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A caller ID function for receiving caller information arriving from a communication line when receiving a call, and automatically responding to an incoming signal from the communication line and associating a message sent from the other party with the caller information. A communication device having an answering machine function for storing and storing a call and a callback function for making a call based on the caller information, wherein a predetermined request by the user is issued during reproduction of the message stored by the answering machine function. When receiving the message, the message being played back is extracted as a message requiring a callback, and after the message playback is completed, control means for operating the callback function based on the extraction result is provided. Communication device. 2. A voice recognition device for recognizing a predetermined voice input, wherein the control device determines whether a predetermined request is made by a user based on an output from the voice recognition device. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The control means according to claim 2, wherein when the control means determines that a predetermined request has been made by the user based on the output from the voice recognition means, the control means notifies the user that the request has been accepted. Communication device. 4. The control means, when extracting a message requiring a callback, ranks the messages based on a predetermined request from a user, and, based on the extracted result and rank, 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said callback is activated based on said communication device. 5. The control means according to claim 1, wherein when the message being reproduced is extracted as a message requiring a callback, the reproduction of the message is interrupted and the next message is reproduced. The communication device according to claim 1. 6. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a list of the extraction results, and causes the call selected by the callback function to be performed for the business selected based on the list display. The communication device according to claim 5. 7. The control means according to claim 2, wherein, when a plurality of messages are selected based on the list display, the calling function is sequentially performed by the callback function for the selected plurality of messages. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The control means according to claim 1, wherein when the call selected by the callback function is performed on the message selected based on the list display, the selected message is reproduced. The communication device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein 9. The control means stores, when a call is made based on the extraction result by the callback function, information indicating that the callback has been completed in association with the business that made the call. 9. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein whether or not callback has been completed is displayed for each message in the list display. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control means, when a call is made based on the result of the extraction by the callback function, excludes the task of making the call from the result of the extraction. The communication device according to claim 8. 11. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the call is made based on the result of the extraction by the callback function, the caller and the related information are deleted. The communication device according to claim 8.