Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
67
AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE ANSWERING AND RECORDING APPARATUS
The present invention relates to an automatic tele-
phone answering and recording apparatus useable as an
answer-phone.
To enable the prior art to be described with the aid
of a diagram the figures of the drawings will first be
listed.
Fig. 1 shows the circuit configuration of a conven-
tional telephone answering apparatus.
Fig, 2 is an external view of one embodiment of an
automatic telephone answering and recording apparatus
according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 shows the circuit configuration of the elec-
trical circuit system of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a partial circuit drawing showing a speci-
fic example of an aural synthesis section provided with
a time function in Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 and 6 are timing charts for explanation of
the operation of the circuits of Figs. 2 and 3.
Figs. 7 through 10 are structural drawings of certain
parts that show other embodiments of the present invention.
A conventional automatic telephone answering apparatus
is shown in Fig. 1. When a call signal (ring signal) from
a caller's telephone set 11 arrives via exchange 12, it is
detected by a bell signal detection circuit 13 connected
to exchange 12 through normally closed contact 140 of a
-- 1 --
~",~JJ
first relay 14 as described below. Bell signal detection
circuit 13 includes a timer which is started in response
to detection of a calling signal to render first relay 14
i of the self-hold type operative. This results in closure
of normally open contact 141 of first relay 14 and estab-
ishment of a speaking path wherein telephone circuit A -
A' is connected to one side of line transformer 15.
At the same time, normally open contacts 142 and 143
of first relay 14 are closed and motor 16 is activated to
the drive state through normally closed contact 201 of
second relay 20 which is activated by closure oE normally
open contact 143 of first relay 14. Endless tape 17 is
thus driven by motor 16 and plays back through playback
head 18 a prerecorded reply message via playback amplifier
19 and a normally closed contact 203 of the second relay
20. This is transmitted by line transformer 15 to the
caller's telephone set 11.
When the endless tape 17 has circled once, conductive
foil 17a on tape 17 short-circuits a pair of electrodes 21
and the second relay 20 is made operative by normally open
contact 143 of the first relay 14, which was previously in
the open state. The second relay 20 becomes self-holding
through closure of its normally open contact 205.
At the same time, normally open contact 202 of the
second relay 20 is opened, thereby stopping motor 16 and
activating motor 22 into the drive state. Translation of
recording tape 23 is thus started by motor 22, permitting
a message from the caller to be recorded on tape 23 via
,..;~.~
,. ~ ..~
..~
normally open contact 204 of second relay 20 which is
now closed, recording amplifier 24, and recording head
25.
When the timer action of the bell signal detection
circuit 13 terminates after completion of a previously
specified tone, first relay 14 is again rendered in-
operative, resulting in second relay 20 again being made
inoperative due to the opening of normally open contact
143 of first relay 14. The relay actions of the first
and second relays 14 and 20 are thus terminated, and the
speaking path returns to its original stand-by state,
In the above system, the caller starts speaking in
response to the reply message given by endless tape 17
and a beep tone that follows this message, Conventional
automatic telephone answering apparatuses such as des-
cribed above have the disadvantage that, since a beep
tone emitted following the reply message is used to
notify a caller that he can start leaving a message,
it is difficult to judge the time when one can start
talking. Also the beep tone is discordant and gives an
unpleasant sensation. The fact that correct timing of
the start of talking is difficult results in a wasteful
running of the recording tape 23. It is therefore often
impossible to completely record the desired message before
the recording time runs out. Another problem is that it
is difficult to take effective measures to notify the
caller of the end of recording tape 23.
In cases in which a called subscriber uses an external
..~.~;.;
,~.i~
$7
telephone circuit to carry out a remote-control action
for read-out of telephone messages that have been received
while he is away, there is the inconvenience that there
is no way of knowing how many telephone calls have been
made or how many messages have been recorded until all
of the recorded portion of the recording tape has been
completely heard. Also, further loss of time results
because it is only possible to know that the last mes-
sage has been reached by letting the tape overrun for
a bit.
Further problems with prior art apparatuses are that
it is required to record information regarding time and
other items before or after the message is recorded,
it is necessary to have a complex arrangement using
external equipment, and it is not possible to take
effective measures to give the caller time information
before or after the message is recorded.
Another problem with prior art apparatuses is that
there is a tendency for the telephone to remain need-
lessly engaged, since there are no effective measuresfor detecting when the caller has replaced the receiver.
In cases in which the subscriber is not out but quite
near the telephone, he might sometimes wish to simply
hear a message from a caller without directly answering
the telephone, but lack of provision for this does not
give the subscriber that choice.
A further problem has been that the endless tape that
carries a prerecorded reply message is played over and
over again and therefore has a comparatively short life.
Another problem is that there are no effective mea-
sures in relation to the arrival of a number of calls
during the same period, including the time when speaking
is proceeding.
Yet another problem is that use of an endless tape
and a recording tape frustrates attempts to reduce power
consumption or to reduce the overall size and weight of
the equipment.
A further problem is that maintenance of secrecy in
remote-controlled read-out necessitates use of special
complex equipment.
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
,
It is, therefore, an object of the present inven-
tion to reduce the drawbacks in an automatic telephone
answering and recording apparatus.
According to the present invention, the automatic
telephone answering and recording apparatus comprises:
means for recording an incoming message sent by a caller
over a telephone line on a first recording medium set
therein; a speaking circuit; means responsive to a call
signal sent by the caller for operating to connect the
speaking circuit to the telephone line associated with
the caller; means responsive to the operating means for
transmitting an answering message previously recorded
on a second recording medium set therein over the tele-
phone line to the caller; means responsive to an ending
of the answering message for detecting the state of the
- 5 -
incoming message recording means and whether or not it
is ready to record the incoming message; and means res-
ponsive to the detecting means for sending the caller a
first aural synthesis output relating to the state of
the incoming ~essage recording means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings consisting
of Figs. 2 through 10. Throughout the drawings, like
reference letters and numerals will be used to designate
like or equivalent elements.
A detailed description of one embodiment of the
present invention will now be given with reference to
the attached drawings.
Fig. 2 is an external view of one embodiment of an
automatic telephone answering and recording apparatus
according to the present invention which is useable
as an answer-phone. An ICM (incoming message) tape
loading section 211 and an OGM (outgoing
-- 6
messa~e) tape loading section 212, both of which use a compact
cassette tape, are provided in parallel in an upper-stage plane
portion of cabinet 210. The ICM tape for the ICM tape loading
section 211 is the reel-to-reel type, and the OGM tape for the
OGM tape loading section 212 i5 the endless type.
The inclined surface of a lower stage of cabinet 210
includes a clock operation key 214, which can cause production of
sound indicating the current time from a sound production loud-
speaker section 213 each time it i~ actuated, a review operation
key 215 (also serving for rewind) for operating a tape recorder
mechanism (which is of the logic control type using plungers,
etc.) in a set state in the same way as for an ordinary tape re-
corder, a playback key 216, a cue key 217 (also serving for fast-
forward operation), a recording operation key 218, a stop key
lS 219, a pause key 220, a key 222 for OGM operation for automatic
telephone replies, a two-way operation key 223, a dictation key
224, an ICM playback key 225 and a key 226 for reply setting
operationO A volume control 227 and an answer-phone display 228
are also provided.
The OGM operation key 222 serves to permit a reply message
or an outgoing message that is to be given during the subscrib-
er's absence to be recorded on the OGM tape (which is endless)
via a built-in microphone, as described below. The contenct of
the outgoing message can be checked by means of the playback key
216.
; ~ -7-
A
_, ~
The reply setting operation key 226 serves for setting an
automatic reply mode during the sub criber's absence, whereby, as
described below, a response is made to callers'and a caller's
message can be recorded on the ICM tape.
The two-way operation key 223 i~ provided for when the sub-
scriber wi3hes to answer the telephone and record the conversa-
tion. There is also included a function by which a sound signal
(beep) is emitted at 15 second intervals during the conversation
to notify the caller that recording is in progress.
The OGM playback key 225 serves to effect playback of what
has been recorded on the ICM tape during the subscriber's ab-
sence. It is known whether calls have come in during one's ab-
sence by observing whether the answer-phone display 228 is
lighted.
The dictation operation key 224 serves to permit the ICM
tape to be used as in an ordinary cassette tape recorder, the
various operating states being as specified by the operating keys
215 - 216.
An ear-phone terminal 230 and a recording time selection
switch 231 are provided on the side of cabinet 210 for selective
restriction of the ICM tape recording time permi,t,ted per call.
Fig. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of an automatic tele-
phone answering device in which the present invention is applied
and which is e~ployable ~s an answer-phone. In the drawing, 311
, 8
. . ~
. .
is an operating section consisting of the above-described
operating keys 214 - 216 and 222 - 226, etc. A logic control
circuit 312 receives different operating signals from operating
1 section 311 and is so constituted that, in response to these
; 5 signals, it effects controls to bring OGM tape -~ection 313, ICM
tape section 314 and aural synthesis section 315 provided with a
clocX function into set states.
First, the construction and operation of the various parts
will be described with reference to an example of the case where
the above noted reply setting operation key 226 has been operated
to permit operating section 311 to use the device in question as
an answer-phone.
The logic control circuit 312 include a microcomputer and
it i8 assumed for explanatory purposes that it is in the standby
state for an answer-phone reply in which variou3 of its parts
have first been made ready. In more detail, a leading end of the
reply message on the OGM tape and an unrecorded portion just
after the last recorded incoming message on the ICM tape are po-
sitioned in the OGM section 212 and the ICM section 211. The
reply message has been previously recorded in the OGM tape
section 313 by a procedure that is described beiow.
When, with the equipment in this standby state, a call sig-
nal (bell signal) from telephone 316 of an external caller ar-
rives via exchange 317, bell signal detection circuit 318 detects
' 1~ `'~
~2~ 7
when the call signal has sounded a set number of times, which can
be specified beforehand, and supplies a detection signal to the
logic control circuit 312. In response, the logic control
circuit 312 supplies an ON signal to relay 319. The set number
for call signal detection is typically two or more to avoid
erroneous detection due to noise.
As a result, normally open contact 319a is closed, causing
establishment of a speaking path wherein the telephone circuit A
- A' is connected to a primary winding of a line transformer 320.
The logic circuit 312 also produces an output of various
control signals in a set timing to bring analog switches Sl - S21
into requisite states, and an OGM head slider plunger 321 and a
capstan motor drive circuit 322 are now actuated via the analog
switches Sl and S2 in order to effect playback drive of the OGM
tape section 313.
As a result, the capstan motor CM is actuated and a prere-
corded reply message on the OGM tape is transmitted to the speak-
ing circuit via a path that goes successively through OGM head
323, analog switch S10, preamplifier 324, buffer amplifier 325,
analog switch S12, filter 326 and amplifier 327 to the line
.ransformer 320.
At this time, the reply message divides into two in the cir-
cuit following the buffer amplifier 326 and is suppLied along a
path going successively though analog switch S13 and filter 328
1 0--
.
~..
to a detector 329, which is therefore able to detect the reply
me~sage end section with the aid of a marking signal prerecorded
on the OGM tape after the reply message.
The logic control circuit 312 is qupplied with the marking
signal indicative of this detection and is ~o arranged that logic
csntrol signal circuit 312 supplies a control signal to cause a
set action in the end section of the reply mescage to aural
synthesis section 315 that is provided with a clock function.
In more detail, the action is one in which, instead of a
conventional beep sound for eliciting a mes age from the caller,
there i~ produced an aural synthesis output such as, "Please
speak" or the like, that has been previously memorized. ~his
output is accompanied, if necessary, by aural synthesi~ output
giving current time information, such as, "It is now X hours, Y
minutes" and so on.
The aural synthesis section 315 is provided with a clock
function transmitted to the speaking circuit via a path that goes
successively through analog switch S16, volume controller 331,
buffer amplifier 325 and then along the same path as the reply
message.
Fig. 4 shows a specific example of an aural synthesis sec-
tion 315 provided with a clock circuit. It includes a known
PARCOR system aural synthesis CMOS LSI (the PARCOR system has
been developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public
67
Corporation) combining a special-purpose mask ROM 400 for aural
data consisting of an address counter 401, an address decoder
402, a ROM 403, a P/S (parallel/serial) conversion circuit 404, a
timing circuit 405 and a synthesis LSI I/F (interface) circuit
406 and a synthesis LSI 410 consisting of a ROM I/F circuit 411,
an aural synthesis circuit 412, a D/A (digital to analog) con-
verter 413, a manual control circuit 414, a synthesis control
circuit 415, a CPU I/F circui~ 416 and a timing circuit 417. An
aural synthesis section 315 provided with a clock function can be
realized by use of a known clock-function L5I, not shown, as a
clock function section.
Fig. 5 is a timing chart of the above reply message and sub-
sequent aural synthesis output of "It is now X hours Y minutes"
and "Please speak" whlch is intended to elicit a message from a
caller. The aural synthesis outputs of "It is now X hours Y
minutes" and "Please speak" shown in Fig. 5(d) are produced in
accordance with timing controls that are the result of taking the
logical product of the end detection section signal of Fig. 5(b)
that is provided at the trailing edge of the reply message showrl
in Fig. 5(a) and the reel motor forward rotation output as shown
in Fig. 5(c). If, however, a time information ~ransmission se-
lector switch 332a which is an accessory to the operating section
311 (not shown in Fig. 2) has been switched off, the aural
synthesis section 315 is supplied, via the logic control circuit
-12-
, ~
312, with a control signal that prohibits tran9mission of the
time information and, as a result of which, only the aural
synthesis output "Please speaX" for eliciting a reply as shown in
Fig. 5(e) is transmitted to the caller.
Since the ICM slider plunger drive output has already been
supplied to logic control circuit 312 together with the above
noted indicating forward rotation of the reel motor RM for re-
cording drive of the ICM tape section 314, the ICM head slider
plunger 333 and reel motor drive circuit 334 are brought into an
operative state.
As a result, the reel motor RM is actuated and the above
noted aural synthesis output of "It is now X hours Y minutes" and
"Please speak" is recorded on the ICM tape via an analog switch
S6 and the ICM head 335 on a branch subsequent to the buffer am-
plifier 325, following which the caller's message can be recorded
smoothly, with no delay and with very natural timing on the ICM
tape. In this case, the caller's messages goes successively via
the line transformer 320, analog switch S15, preamplifier 324 and
buffer amplifier 325 and, then, goes via the same recording path
as the aural synthesis output to be recorded in the ICM tape
section 314.
The time information may be recorded in the ICM tape section
314 not before the message from the caller but at the time of
completion of the caller's message, and the form of such a record
-13-
',, `;'
, .
c~
can, by provision of switch changeover means as required, be such
that recording is effected on a single track or is divided
between a plurality of tracks. Even if time information is not
transmitted to the caller, it can b0 recorded on the ICM tape
simply by actuation of the switch 332a and, if required, another
switch can be provided to permit one to choose whether or not
time information is to be recorded on the ICM tape.
It is also possible to have an arrangement wherein simple
actuation of switch 332a for prohibiting transmis~ion of time in-
formation to the caller effects masking by which the aural
~ynthesis output that is transmitted to the caller to elicit a
message is prevented from being recorded on the ICM tape, or if
required one may have an arrangement wherein there is provided
another switch to permit one to choose whether or not the aural
lS synthesis output eliciting a message is recorded in the ICM tape
section 314.
Recording of time information in the ICM tape section 314 is
done to provide the subscriber with the convenience of knowing,
on playback of the tape, at what times particular telephone mes-
sages were left during his absence. However, if the subscriber
is away not for just one day but for several da~s, it can become
unclear what day a given recorded time corresponds to. As an ef-
fective measure for this kind of situation, it is simply neces-
sary to make the configuration of the aural synthesis section 315
-14-
.^ ~
., .
~ t7
such that the time information ig preceded by weekday information
which notes the day of the week from Sunday to Saturday or infor~
mation that indicates the numb~r of days that have elapsed and
specifies, e.g., from day one to day four.
It is possible to have an arrangement in which there is an
output of these types of information only on the day of the week
of the number of day~ that have elapsed, and as well as having
the above-described output forms, these types of information can
be indicated by suitable codes or by a number of beeps, etc.
If the end of the ICM tape arrives while a caller's message
is being recorded in the ICM tape section 314, this is detected
by the tape end detection section 338. Tape end detection output
of this section is supplied to the logic control circuit 312,
which is so constituted that it supplies to the aural synthesis
section 330 a control signal for causing a set action at the end
of the ICM tape.
This action is one whereby the caller is notified of the ar-
rival of the end of the ICM tape by transmission of an aural
synthesis output such as "The tape has ended", the transmission
path needed for this being the same as that followed by the
above-described aural synthesis output of "Please speak".
Fig. 6 is a timing chart of transmission of this end infor-
mation such as "The tape has ended". Fig. 5(a) of the chart
shows stopping of the ICM tape (recording), Fig. 5(b) the
15-
, ,, , ~ .
~2~ ;7
emission of a tape end detection signal, Fig. 5(c) the emission
of the control signal, and Fig. 5(d) tran~mission of the aural
synthesis output "The tape has ended" which is timed by taking
the logical product of Figs. 5(b) and 5(c).
If use i9 made of a tape recorder with an auto-reverse
function, it is possible to have an arrangement wherein the mes-
sage "Please wait a little" is transmitted following "The tape
has ended" and then, when auto-reverse action has been completed,
an aural synthesis output such as "Sorry to have kept you wait-
ing. Please speak now" can be produced.
In the above, in order to record a reply message in the OGM
tape section 313, it is simply necessary to actuate the OGM
operation key 222 of the operation section 311 and enter the
required reply message via the built-in microphone 229. This
action causes various control signals for establishment of a
reply message recording state to be supplied from the logic
control circuit 312 to the OGM tape section 313. In more detail,
there is established a recording route that goes successively
through the built-in microphone 229, an analog switch Sll, the
preamplifier 324, the buffer amplifier 325 and an analog switch
S9 to the OGM head 323 which functions as a recording head.
To play back telephone messages that have been recorded in
the ICM tape section 314 during one's absence, it is only neces-
sary to actuate the ICM playback key 225 of the operating section
-16-
"
. . ~ .
~,.,
311. This results in various control signals for establishment
of a playback drive being supplied from the logic control circuit
312 to the ICM tape section 314, and there is established a play-
back route that goes successively via the ICM head 335, analog
switch S7, preamplifier 324, volume controller 331 and output am-
plifier 336 to loudspeaker 337.
As a measure to prevent sound being emitted from the loud-
speaker 337 during the above-described use of the device as an
answer-phone, the output amplifier 336 is supplied with power
source voltage for dxive thereof only when the device is in this
playback state.
At the same time of recording in the OGM tape section 313 or
the ICM tape section 314, requisite erasure signals can be
supplied from the logic control circuit 312 via an analog switch
S8 or S5 to an erasure head 361 or 362.
It is also possible for telephone messages that have been
recorded in the ICM tape section 314 during one's absence to be
played back by remote-control action without actuating playback
key 225 of the operating section 311 and without using the tele-
phone circuit.
This remote-control playback operation is ~seful when one is
not absent but is comparatively nearby, such as in another room.
A feature in this case is that it is possible to directly
establish a remote-control playback mode by means of sound waves.
-17-
~:i
; All that it is necessary to do is to use a remote-control
operation unit 341 that is, more or less, the same as a remote-
, control operation unit employed for remote-control operation
playback using the telephone circuit and to emit from the loud-
speaker 341a of this unit call sound waves that are coded so as
to provide requisite secrecy and which are directed to a remote-
control microphone 340 that i5 provided in the device main body
as shown in Fig. 3.
Output from microphone 340 when it has received the call
(sound waves) is supplied via a path that goes successively
though amplifier 342 with the same band characteristic as the
telephone circuit, analog switch S14 and filter 328 to detector
329 (which in this case function~ as a tone decoder), and detec-
tor 329 thus detects that there is a call for remote-control
lS playback operation.
The logic control circuit 312 i5 suppli.ed with a detection
signal indicative of this and can supply various control signals
for rewind of the ICM tape section 314 and establishment of a
playback state (skipping also being possible if required), fol-
lowing which the same playback route as described above is
established.
As a result of this, the subscriber can hear a message
recorded on the ICM tape because of the emission from loudspeaker
337, even if he is not ~by the side of the actual device itself.
-l8-
~1`
Since, unlike the case in which the telephone circuit is
used and the call sound is introduced directly into the tele-
phone, the remote-control operation unit 341 is a unit which is
located at a certain distance and with which call (sound waves)
is introduced into the microphone 340, it is necessary to have an
output that iq comparatively large in comparison to that used for
telephone circuit operation and is proportional to the distance
of the unit. In view of this, in addition to a group of set
operation mode selection keys, the remote-control operation unit
341 is provided with a regulator 341b for varying output so as to
ensure that it functions properly without risk of error, whatever
the state of the output that is used.
The remote-control operation unit 341 is also made such
that, instead of emission of a call (sound waves) coded to
provide requisite secrecy from its loudspeaker 341a it can, as
the result of changeover action of switch 341d, produce equiva-
lent output in the form of call light waves from a light-emittiny
element 341c. In other words, different call outputs can be used
depending upon which is the more advantageous in view of the dis-
tance or situation with regard to intermediate obstacles at a
particular time.
When the remote-control playback operation mode is employed
using call light waves from the light-emitting element 341c, and
not the telephone circuit, the call light waves are subjected to
--19--
.
~2~ 7
photo-eLectric conversiOn by light-receiving element 346 such a~
a phototransistor that is provided at the device main body end
approximately along side the above noted microphone 340 for re-
ception of call sound waves. The call light waves are led along
the above-described path from the amplifier 342 on and are
processed in the same was as the call sound waves, and so
function to establish the requisite playback state.
A description will now be given of the case in which the
remote-control playback operation mode is made using the tele-
phone circuit. In this case, as a result of selection action by
operation keys 342 and 343 which are provided on the operating
section as shown in Fig. 3, it is possible to have not just re-
wind of the ICM tape section 341 and production of playbacX
drive, but also to have emission of the aural output of the tele-
phone calls that have been received during an absence and of the
termination of the messages for playback.
In the situation where the operation key 342 has been actu~
ated, the subscri~er must first use the above-described remote-
control operation unit 341 to send out a signal indicating that
the playback operation mode is to be a mode of remote-control
from an external telephone. The remote-control-signal in this
case goes via the telephone circuit and, like ordinary aural
signals, is supplied via a path going through line transformer
; 320, analog switch S15, the preamplifier 324, buffer amplifier
; -20-
~2~ ;7
325, analog switch S13 and filter 328 to detector 329 twhich in
this ca~e functions as a tone decoder and remote-control signal
decoder). The detector 329 thus .detects the arrival via the
telephone circuit of a call from the subscriber ~pecifying
remote-control playback operation.
The logic circuit 312 is supplied with a detection signal
indicative of this and is so constituted that, in response, it
supplies various control signal~ that bring the ICM tape section
314 into a playback drive state in the same manner as described
above and cause~ the playback output of this section to be
transmitted to the speaking circuit via a path going successively
through the ICM head 335, analog switch S7, preamplifier 324,
buffer amplifier 327 and line transformer 320. It can also sup-
ply a control signal which brings a first remote-control circuit
344 into a drive state, thereby making it possible for aural
synthesis output in the form of "Message playback has ended" to
be sent out from the aural synthesis section 315 to the speaking
circuit, via the same route as for the above noted outputs, imme-
diately on termination of the playback output of the ICM tape
section 315.
What happens in this case is that the count of the number
(N) of times that a bell signal has been detected by the bell
signal detection circuit 318 is set beforehand in the first
; ~ remote-control circuit 344 in the form of (N - 1) via analog
i -21-
1~ '
switch S18. Subsequently, when the sub3criber use~c the telephone
circuit to make a call for establishing a remote-control playback
mode, the playback output from the buffer amplifier 325 is read
via analog switch Sl9 and the number of incoming messages is
counted. The two counts are successively compared and when their
values coincide the first remote-control circuit 344 supplies the
aural synthesis section 315 with a control signal for causing
production of the set aural synthe~is output such as described
above for giving notification of the end of message playback.
The reason why the number (N) of times bell ~ignals detected
by the bell signal detection circuit 318 is counted as (~ - 1) is
that one of the bell signals detected is a call from the sub-
scriber for remote-control playback operation.
A description will now be given of the case in which the
operation key 343 has been actuated. The remote-control playback
operation mode as such is the same as described above, but in
this case things are arranged so that when there is a call speci-
fying remote-control playback operation, the aural synthesis out-
put giving information on the number of calls that have been
received so far during the subscriber's absence, e.g., output in
the form "There have been three calls", is tran~mitted to tne
speaking circuit from the aural drive of the ICM tape section
314.
-22-
~:;
,.. .
In rnore detail, in thi3 case the count of the number (N) of
time~ that bell signals have been detected by the bell signal de-
tection circuit 318 is previously set via an analog switch S20 in
a second remote-control circuit 345, in the form (N - 1) for the
same reason a~ noted above, and when subsequently the subscriber
uses the telephone circuit to make a call specifying the remote-
control playback operation mode, the value of this count i9
supplied to the aural synthesis section 315. In response, aural
synthesis ~ection 315 make~ a 3election of set aural data from
previously synthesized and analysed.data and produces a sound
signal in correspondence to the count value input.
Actuation of both operation keys 342 and 343 results in per-
formance of both of the above-described functions. The first and
second remote-control. circuits 344 and 345 may be easily realized
by combinations of known counter circuits, latch circuits, non-
recording detection circuits, comparison circuits, subtraction
circu-its, etc.
The device also includes means to stop supply of power volt-
age to the output amplifier 336 and so prevent emission of play-
back sound from the loudspeaker 337 when the remote-control play
back operation mode is this mode using the synthesis telephone
circuit.
-23-
~ .
Next, a description will be given of a remote-control reply
mode that i~ provided in addition to the above answer-phone
functions.
As in the case described above wherein a remote-control
playback operation mode is established without using the tele-
phone circuit, this mode is of advantage when the subscriber is
not away but is comparatively nearby, such as in another room,
and is one wherein the device i~ still caused to function as an
answer-phone, but it is also possible for the subscriber, while
in a different location, to reply to and outside telephone call.
In more specific detail, it is simply necessary to actuate
an operation key 347 that is provided in the operating section
311 as shown in Fig. 3. When this ~ey 347 is actuated, reception
of a telephone call from a caller results in performance of the
series of answer-phone functions compri~ing transmission of a
reply message, transmission of an aural synthesis output inviting
the caller to leave a message and recording the caller's message
as described above and, at the same time, there is supplied
control signals from the logic control circuit 312 to bring a
receiving section 348 and a transmission section 349 into a
driven state.
A~ a result, output of the preamplifier 324 in the path over
which messages from callers are recorded (this may also be the
reply transmission path) i5 supplied to the transmitting section
-24-
.~ ~
349 via an analog switch S:L7 and then is transmitted via an
antenna 350, e.g., in the form of CB (citizens band) radio waves.
The transmitted waves proceed via antenna 351a and the
receiving section 351b of a transceiver 351 (e.g., in the form of
a transceiver that the subscriber in the separate location has at
hand), and the subscriber can thus listen in via earphone~ or a
loudspeaker 351c. If, on receipt of the message, the subscriber
makes a reply into microphone 351d on the transceiver 351, this
reply i9 transmitted via the tran~missioA section 351e to the
receiving section 348 via antenna 350 at the automatic telephone
answering device end. It is then transmitted to the speaking
circuit via a path that goe~ successively through the analog
switch S17, buffer amplifier 325, analog switch S12, filter 326,
amplifier 327 and line transformer 320.
A detector 352 is coupled between the receiving section 348
and the logic control section 312 to detect the radio reply mes-
sage from transceiver 351. Detector 352 supplies a detected
signal to the logic control circuit 312 upon the receipt of the
reply message so that the logic control circuit 312 operates to
deactivate the OGM section 313. The logic control circuit 312
operates to maintain activation of the OGM section 313 when the
detector 352 fails to detect the reply message on the receiving
section 348.
, ~ ~
If the subscriber switche~ on switch 351f on the transceiver
351, the message from the caller that is received by receiving
section 351b is recorded in tape recorder section 351g, which
offers the convenience that, if required, the subscriber can play
back the caller's message straightaway without having to deliber-
ately go to where the automatic telephone answering device is
located.
If switch 351h also is switched on at the same time, this
makes it possible for so-called two-way system recording in which
the 3ubscriber's reply is recorded via the transmission section
351e in the tape recorder section 351g to be effected by the sub-
scriber's side, making subsequent playback more convenient.
The tape recorder 351g is made integral with the transceiver
3Sl and is preferably a micro-cassette type as this makes dubbing
easier-
Fig. 7 shows the case in which, instead of the endless OGM
tape section 313 shown in Fig. 3, use is made of an OGM card
section 313a. Combination of this with the ICM tape section 314
gives the advantage that instead of two tape recorder mechanisms
being necessary, the automatic telephone answering device only
needs one tape recorder mechanism for the ICM t.ape section 314,
which makes construction simpler. Use of these OGM cards also
offers the advantage that, when a plurality of OGM cards for
different purposes is prepared, the cost is lower than use of an
endless OGM tape.
-26-
~,f~ 7
In this case, use is made of OGM cards 371 in the form of
magnetic card such as employed for cash cards. On arrival of an
external telephone call, an OGM card 371 loaded in a card loading
section 372 is carried over the head section 323 by rollers 373 -
376 that are actuated with the same timing as used for the cap-
stan motor CM referred to above and a prerecorded reply message
is reproduced. When this has ended, the card is automatically
returned to its initial position.
The OGM card-~ are not limited to being magnetic cards but
other forms of cards may be employed and a bar code system or
other recording system may be employed as the recording system.
Fig. 8 shows the case in which an OGM recorder section 313b
and an ICM recorder section 314a comprising solid state recorders
are respectively used instead of the OG tape section 313 and the
ICM tape section 314. This offers the advantage that the auto-
matic telephone answering device can be realized solely by solid
state circuitry using electronics technology, without there being
any need at all for conventional tape recorder mechanisms. In
other words, the construction can be simplified and it is possi
ble to design for greater compactness, reduced weight, lower
power consumption and greater ease of operation.
Th~ OGM recorder section 313b and the ICM recorder section
314a in this case both make use of solid state recorders. As
shown in Fig. 9, in such a solid state recorder at the time of
-27-
,
3-~i7
recording, recording signals that have passed through a
preamplifier, etc. are digitalized by an A/D converter 910 and
then stored in an internal memory 911, while at the time of play-
back, digital data stored in the internal memory 911 is read out
sequentially and restored to analog 3ignals by a D/A converter
912 and then produced as output with sampling noise removed by a
filter 913. The corresponding playback signals are transmitted
through a preamplier and output ampli~ier to a loudspeaker, or
are transmitted to the speaking circuit as described above.
Further, si~ce the OGM recorder -~ection 313b and the ICM re-
corder section 314a are constituted by solid state recorders that
effect sequential digitalization and real-time processing of re-
cording and playback and permit equivalent substitution with
aural synthe~is technology, they can be constituted integrally
with the aural synthesis section 315 shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 10 shows the case wherein detector 329 shown in Fig. 3
is provided with a voice recognition section 329a. Instead of
the special-purpose remote-control playback operation unit 341
being used to establish the above-described remote-control play
back operation mode using the telephone circuit, this mode can
thu~ be established as the result of recognition of a message
(e.g., "Play back messages"), that is received from the telephone
circuit and is given to the voice of the subscriber (or the
voices of a number of people), which has previously been recorded
-28-
i7
in the voice recognition section 329a in the same band as used
for the telephone circuit.
The invention i-~ not limited to the embodiments that have
been described above and are shown in the drawings but a variety
S of modifications and application~ are possible without departure
from the es~ence of the invention.
,
-29-
