JP2948832B2 - Telephone - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone having a function of transmitting a hold tone such as a melody tone to a destination while a call is interrupted.

2. Description of the Related Art As a function of a telephone, there is known a function of transmitting a hold sound such as a melody sound to a destination when a call is interrupted and the destination is made to wait. Such a function is often provided not only in a single telephone but also in a telephone attached to a facsimile apparatus.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, while such a telephone is transmitting a hold tone,
The other party may disconnect the line by hooking up the telephone handset.

In this case, conventionally, it has not been possible to determine that the other party has disconnected the line until the operator releases the hold state and picks up the handset. For this reason, until the operator releases the hold state, the telephone continues to transmit the hold tone as it is, and the operation is useless, and the line is occupied by the telephone.

Further, conventionally, even if the user is not in a call with the other party, when the user puts the handset off-hook and performs the hold operation, the hold sound is always sent out. There was a problem that is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a telephone which enables an operator to quickly know a line disconnection of a called party while the telephone is on hold, and which eliminates useless holding sound transmission and useless line occupation. Aim.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a communication circuit is connected to a line during a call, while the detection means is disconnected from the line, and the communication is interrupted during a call. While the hold tone is being sent to the other party, the communication circuit is disconnected from the line while the detection means is connected to the line, and if the line disconnection is detected by the detection means, the telephone is also disconnected and held. The transmission of sound is stopped.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the communication circuit is connected to the line during a call, while the detecting means is disconnected from the line. While the circuit is disconnected from the line, the detecting means is connected to the line, and when the line disconnection is detected by the detecting means, the telephone is also disconnected to stop sending the hold sound and the detecting means detects the other party. When the line disconnection of the destination telephone is detected, the fact that the other party has disconnected the line is displayed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects, a function of transmitting a hold tone to the other party during a period in which the call is interrupted, and detecting a predetermined tone signal from a line. And the function of the detecting means for detecting the line disconnection of the other party's telephone.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is determined that the other party after the dialing operation has answered, and a call signal from the line is detected.
When the other party's response is determined or when a call signal is detected, the flag indicating that communication is in progress is turned on. When the hold operation means instructs to suspend the call, the telephone handset is off-hook, and the flag is on. , The hold tone is transmitted only when the handset goes off-hook to on-hook, and the flag is turned off.

[Operation] In the first invention, when the above-mentioned detecting means detects a line disconnection of the other party's telephone during the transmission of the hold tone, the line of the telephone is cut off and the transmission of the hold tone is stopped. When the call circuit is connected to a line during a call, the detection means is disconnected from the line, and during transmission of a hold tone to the other party while the call is interrupted, the call circuit is disconnected from the line. And the detection means is connected to the line,
The detecting means is to be connected to the line only during the interruption of the call (during transmission of the hold tone), in which the detecting means should detect the disconnection of the line of the other party's telephone by detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line. . Therefore, when the predetermined tone signal is to be detected, the voice during the call by the call circuit is not input to the detection means.

In the second invention, when the detecting means detects a line disconnection of the other party's telephone during the transmission of the hold tone, the line of the telephone is disconnected and the transmission of the hold tone is stopped. When the call circuit is connected to a line during a call, the detection means is disconnected from the line, and during transmission of a hold tone to the other party while the call is interrupted, the call circuit is disconnected from the line. And the detection means is connected to the line,
The detecting means is to be connected to the line only during the interruption of the call (during transmission of the hold tone), in which the detecting means should detect the disconnection of the line of the other party's telephone by detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line. . Therefore, when the predetermined tone signal is to be detected, the voice during the call by the call circuit is not input to the detection means. Further, the operator disconnects the line of the other party during the period in which the call is interrupted (on hold) and the hold tone is transmitted, releases the hold state, picks up the handset, and determines the sound heard from the handset. Instead, it can be known from the display indicating that the other party has disconnected the line.

In the third invention, the function of transmitting a hold tone to the other party during the period in which the call is interrupted, and detecting the line disconnection of the other party telephone by detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line. The function of the detecting means is realized by the modem.

In the fourth invention, it is determined whether or not communication is being performed with the other party, and the holding tone can be transmitted only during communication.
Useless holding sound transmission is prevented.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a facsimile image processing section 1 reads an original image and transmits the obtained image information by a modem 2, while recording the image information received by the modem 2 on a recording sheet. The modulation / demodulation circuit 2a in the modem 2 has a tone signal generation circuit 2b for continuously outputting tone signals of various frequencies or intermittently outputting them at an arbitrary timing. When transmitting various procedural signals during facsimile communication, and during communication, This is used when transmitting a melody sound as a hold sound. The tone signal detection circuit 2c designates various frequencies and detects a tone signal of the designated frequency. The tone signal detection circuit 2c receives the above-mentioned various procedural signals and detects a specific signal transmitted from the exchange of the central office. It is. For example, as the above procedure signal, a CNG signal of 1100 Hz or a CNG signal of 2100 Hz
There is an ED signal, and the signal received from the exchange includes a 400 Hz intermittent busy tone or ring back tone.

The call control circuit 3 is for making a call using the handset 4. The switching circuit 5 switches between facsimile communication and telephone communication.
However, the modem 2 is connected to the terminal b. The common terminal c is connected to one end of one winding of the transformer 6, and the other end is grounded.

One end of the other winding of the transformer 6 is directly connected to the telephone line, and the other end is connected to the telephone line via the switch circuit 7.

The call detection circuit 8 detects a call signal from a telephone line, and is connected to the telephone line via a capacitor 9.

The RAM 10 stores melody data to be sent out as a hold tone as a melody data table 10a. This data, as shown in FIG. 2, the melody of one song, and the frequency data f ₁ ~f _n of each time point is shown by a respective connection time data t ₁ ~t _n.

The operation display section 11 is used by an operator to perform various operations on the facsimile apparatus and to display an operation state of the apparatus. Although not shown, the operation display unit 11 is provided with a known keypad for dial operation, a start / stop key for facsimile communication, and the like as an operation unit of the facsimile apparatus. Further, in this embodiment, an automatic manual switching key 11a for selecting whether or not to make the facsimile machine automatically answer when an incoming call is received, a hold key 11b for outputting a hold sound when a call is interrupted and another party is held, and the hold state is released. And a display 11d for displaying characters.

The tone ringer 12 outputs a ringing sound upon receiving a call. The control unit 13 controls the above-described units to execute a predetermined operation.

With the above configuration, when manually answering the destination, the operator sets the automatic manual switching key 11a to the "manual" side. In this state, assuming that the facsimile apparatus receives a call, the call detection circuit 8 detects a call signal from the telephone line, and the control unit 13 makes the tone ringer 12 ring.

When the operator hears the ringing sound of the tone ringer 12 and goes off-hook the handset 4, the control unit 13 stops the ringing sound, connects the switching circuit 5 to the communication control circuit 3, and closes the switch circuit 7.

Thereby, the call control circuit 3 is connected to the telephone line, and the operator can talk with the other party.

During this call, the operator presses the hold key 11b to interrupt the call and make the other party wait.

FIG. 3 shows the operation at this time.
When 11b is pressed (Y in process 101), the control unit 13 switches the switching circuit 5 to the terminal b (process 102). And
The tone signal detection circuit 2c is controlled to detect a tone signal of 400 Hz (process 103), and the pointer P indicating the address of the melody data table 10a in the RAM 10 is set to P =
It is set to 1 (process 104).

Then, the frequency data f _P and connection time of the address indicated by the pointer P in the melody data table 10a shown in FIG. 2 reads data t _P (processing 105). Then, the frequency data f _P, and controls the tone signal generating circuit 2b,
As to output a tone signal of a frequency (processing 106), until a time indicated by the duration data t _P has elapsed, (the N from the process 105 of processing 107) that a tone signal continues to be output. Thus, a sound corresponding to one note of the melody is transmitted to the other party.

Then, when the time indicated by the duration data t _P has elapsed (Y in step 107), it is determined whether the hold release key 11b has been pressed (step 108), and if it has not been pressed (step 1).
08, N), it is determined whether or not 400 Hz is detected by the tone signal detection circuit 2c (process 109).

By the way, during such a call, if the other party goes on-hook on the telephone first, the telephone office exchanges 60 minutes per minute.
An intermittent 400 Hz busy tone is transmitted.

In the above, the tone signal detection circuit 2c
Intermittent sound is detected. Here, when a signal of 400 Hz is not detected (N in process 109), the pointer P is incremented by +1.
(Step 110) to determine the value of the pointer P (Step 11).
1). If the value of the pointer P is equal to or smaller than the last address of the data table (N in the processing 111), the same processing as described above is repeated (to the processing 105).

When the value of the pointer P exceeds the last address of the data table (Y in step 111), the pointer P is set to P =
As 1 (to process 104), the above operation is repeated from the beginning. As a result, the tone signal output from the tone signal generation circuit 2b becomes a melody of one set tune,
It is repeatedly sent to the other party's telephone. The tone signal has a 400 Hz component removed to determine a busy tone received from the central office exchange.

During transmission of this melody, the operator
If 11c is pressed (Y in processing 108), the switching circuit 5 is switched to the contact a side and returns to the talking state (processing 112).
To processing 101).

On the other hand, suppose that the other party disconnects the line by hooking the telephone while sending the melody. In this case, the 400 Hz busy tone is transmitted from the exchange of the central office, and is detected by the tone signal detection circuit 2c. In this case (processing 109
Y), a message, for example, "The other party has disconnected the line" is displayed on the display 11d (process 113).
The switch circuit 7 is opened (step 114), and the line of this facsimile machine is also disconnected.

On the other hand, when transmitting and receiving a document image by manual operation, a predetermined activation operation of the operation display unit 11 is performed in the above-mentioned call state. As a result, the switching circuit 5 is switched to the terminal b side, and the modulation / demodulation circuit 2a and the facsimile image processing unit 1 are switched.
Operate to execute facsimile communication.

When a document image is to be received due to an automatic incoming call, the automatic manual switching key 11a is set to "automatic". As a result, at the time of an incoming call, the switching circuit 5 is switched to the terminal b side at the same time when the switch circuit 7 is closed, and the facsimile communication is executed as described above.

As described above, when the line disconnection of the other party's telephone is detected while the music on hold is being transmitted, the fact is displayed and the telephone is also disconnected, so that the operator can quickly know the line disconnection of the other party. This makes it possible to eliminate useless holding tone transmission and line occupation.

 Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show an outgoing operation when talking or transmitting a document with this facsimile apparatus.

Now, assuming that document transmission is to be performed, the operator sets a document to be transmitted on a document table (not shown), off-hooks handset 4, and inputs the destination telephone number digit by digit using numeric keys.

When the handset 4 is off-hook (Y in step 201), the facsimile apparatus closes the switch circuit 7 and connects the switching circuit 5 to the a side (step 202). Next, each time the numeric key is pressed by one digit (process 203), the switch circuit 7 is momentarily interrupted the number of times indicated by the number, thereby outputting a dial pulse signal to the line (process 204). Thereafter, a ringback tone from the line is detected (processing 20
Five). This ringback tone is detected after the dial pulse signal has been transmitted for the number of digits of the telephone number. If this is not detected (N in process 205), the process returns to process 203.

Thus, when the transmission of the dial pulse signal of the telephone number of the other party is completed, the calling of the other party is started, and a ringback tone is transmitted from the line.

When the facsimile apparatus detects the ringback tone (Y in Step 205), it starts a timer for monitoring a fixed time of, for example, 5 seconds (Step 206) and detects the ringback tone again (Step 207). If the ringback tone is still detected (Y in step 207),
The same process is repeated by restarting the timer (to process 206).

By the way, the ring back tone is a repetitive signal in which a 400 Hz tone signal is turned on for one second and turned off for two seconds, and is a signal that stops when the other party responds.

When the ringback tone stops (N in processing 207), the facsimile apparatus checks the state of the timer (processing 208). If the elapsed time is within the predetermined time (N in processing 208), the facsimile apparatus performs the ringback. The process returns to the detection of the tone (the process 207). The above routine is repeated while the ring back tone is off for 2 seconds, in which case,
The ringback tone is detected again.

When the ringback tone is detected again (Y in step 207), the process returns to restarting the timer (step 206).

On the other hand, when the other party answers, the ringback tone stops. When a certain period of time has elapsed after the ringback tone is no longer detected and the timer expires (Y in step 208), a communication flag indicating that communication is in progress is turned on (step 209).

When the facsimile machine responds at the destination,
After hearing the tone of the facsimile signal with the handset 4, the operator performs a predetermined starting operation. When the destination operator answers, the call becomes available, so that the operator activates the destination facsimile apparatus and performs a predetermined activation operation.

After the above, the facsimile apparatus checks whether or not the transmission original is set on the original platen (process 210), and if the transmission original is set (Y of process 210), monitors the activation operation of the operator (processing 210). 211). Then, when the starting operation is performed (Y in step 211), the movable contact of the switching circuit 5 is switched to the b side (step 212), and a predetermined facsimile communication is executed (step 213). When the communication is completed, the communication flag is turned off (processing 214),
The switch circuit 7 is opened (process 215), and the document transmission is terminated.

On the other hand, when the operator talks, the transmission original is not set. In the above case, when the transmission original is not set (N in step 210), the process returns to step 203. In this case, the ten keys are not operated.

When the ten-key is not operated (N in process 203), the facsimile machine checks whether the hold key 11b is pressed (process 216). Here, when the hold key 11b is not pressed (N in process 216), the hook state of the handset 4 is checked (process 217). If the state remains off-hook (Y in step 217), the process returns to step 203 and the same processing is repeated.

During this period, the operator can talk with the other party. The operator presses the hold key 11b when necessary, and presses the hold release key 11c to release it.

When the hold key 11b is pressed (Y in step 216), the facsimile apparatus checks the communication flag (step 218). Now, the communicating flag is on. In this case (Y in processing 218), the switching circuit 5 is switched to the b side (processing 219).

Next, the melody sound is transmitted from the tone signal generation circuit 2b until the hold release key 11c is pressed by the method described in the above-described embodiment (processing 220, processing 221, processing 221).
From N to process 220).

Then, when the hold release key 11c is pressed (Y in process 221), the switching circuit 5 is switched to the a side (process 222). Next, if the handset 4 is off-hook (step 217)
N), the call state is maintained.

When the handset 4 is hooked on by the operator (Y in process 218), the communication flag is turned off (process 214), the switch circuit 7 is opened (process 215), and the operation is terminated.

By the way, if the operator presses the hold key 11b without dialing after off-hook of the handset, in this case (the processing 216 and the processing 21
From step 6 to step 218, and from step N to step 217), the melody sound transmission operation is not executed.

Next, a description will be given of an incoming call operation when the facsimile apparatus receives an image or a telephone call. Now, it is assumed that the automatic manual switching key 11a has been set to an "automatic" state in which the facsimile apparatus can respond at the time of an incoming call.

FIG. 5 shows this incoming call operation. That is, the facsimile apparatus constantly monitors the calling signal from the line (N loop of processing 301), and upon detecting the calling signal (Y of processing 301), turns on the communication flag (processing 302). . Then, it is monitored whether or not the handset 4 is off-hook for a certain period of time, for example, 30 seconds (from step 303, N in step 303 to step 304, N in step 304).
To processing 303).

When answering for a call, the operator goes off-hook the handset 4 within the above-mentioned fixed time.

When the handset 4 is off-hook (Y in step 303), the facsimile apparatus closes the switch circuit 7 and connects the switching circuit 5 to the a side (step 305). In this state, the operator can talk with the partner operator.

4, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 indicate the same processing. After that, if the hold key 11b is not pressed (N in processing 216), the hook state of the handset 4 is checked next. (Step 306) If the state remains off-hook (N in Step 306), the process returns to Step 216.

If the hold key 11b is pressed (Y in step 216), the busy flag is checked (step 218).
Now, the communication flag is on (step 218).
(Y), the melody sound is transmitted according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 4, and the melody sound is stopped when the hold release key 11c is pressed (steps 219 to 222). Thereafter, if the state remains off-hook (N in step 306), the process returns to step 216.

When the handset 4 is hooked on (Y in step 306), the communication flag is turned off (step 30).
7) The switch circuit 7 is opened (process 308), and the operation ends.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the operator does not respond after receiving the incoming call.

The facsimile apparatus closes the switch circuit 7 and connects the switching circuit 5 to the b side when the predetermined time has elapsed without the handset 4 being off-hook (Y in step 304) (step 309). If the destination is a facsimile machine, predetermined facsimile communication is executed (process 31).
0). When this communication is completed, the communication flag is turned off (process 307), the switch circuit 7 is opened (process 308), and the operation ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the ringback tone is stopped at the time of outgoing call, that is, the communication flag is turned on when the other party answers, while the call signal is received at the time of incoming call. At this time, the communication flag is turned on, and the melody sound is transmitted only when the hold key 11b is pressed and the communication flag is turned on.

Thus, when the communication is not actually being performed, the melody sound is not transmitted even if the operator presses the hold key 11b. As a result, unnecessary transmission of a melody sound as in the related art is prevented.

Note that, in the above embodiment, at the time of calling, the communicating flag is set to
Although the switch is turned on when the ringback tone stops, the switch may be turned on when even one digit of the telephone number is input by the ten keys.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the control unit 13 program-controls the tone signal generation circuit 2b in accordance with the melody data of the melody data table 10a, but hardware for performing the control may be provided. Also, the melody is output by a single frequency tone,
It is also conceivable to improve the timbre by mixing harmonics.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made of the example of the facsimile apparatus provided with the telephone handset. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to a single telephone.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the first invention, when the above-mentioned detecting means detects disconnection of the line of the other party's telephone during transmission of the hold sound, the line of the telephone is disconnected and the hold sound is transmitted. Is also stopped, so that useless holding tone transmission and useless line occupation can be eliminated. Further, the detecting means should detect a predetermined tone signal from the line to detect disconnection of the line of the other party's telephone. Because it is not connected,
During a call that does not need to detect the predetermined tone signal,
The voice during the call by the call circuit is input to the detection means, and the voice during the call is erroneously detected as the predetermined tone signal. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a troublesome situation.

According to the second invention, when the above-mentioned detecting means detects the line disconnection of the other party's telephone during the transmission of the hold tone, the line of the telephone is cut off and the transmission of the hold tone is stopped. Transmission and unnecessary occupation of the line can be eliminated. Further, the detecting means should detect a predetermined tone signal from the line to detect disconnection of the line of the other party's telephone. During a call in which it is not necessary to detect the predetermined tone signal because the connection is not made, the voice during the call by the call circuit is input to the detection means, and the voice during the call is erroneously detected as the predetermined tone signal. It is possible to prevent a situation in which a line is disconnected without permission and a normal call is hindered during a call. Further, the operator disconnects the line of the other party during the period in which the call is interrupted (on hold) and the hold tone is transmitted, releases the hold state, picks up the handset, and determines the sound heard from the handset. The call can be detected by a display indicating that the other party has disconnected the line, and the hold time should be released as quickly as possible so that the hold time is shortened as much as possible to avoid disturbing the other party. Therefore, when trying to resume a call with the other party, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the held call has already been disconnected by the other party and a series of operations will end in a laborless manner. Response is possible.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the function of transmitting a hold tone to the other party during the period in which the call is interrupted, and detecting the line disconnection of the other party telephone by detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line. Since the function of the detecting means is realized by the modem, the present invention can be realized at low cost by using the signal processing function originally provided in the modem.

According to the fourth invention, when a response of the other party is determined or a call signal is detected, a flag indicating that communication is in progress is turned on, and when a call interruption is instructed by a hold operation,
A hold tone is transmitted only when the handset of the telephone is off-hook and the flag is on, and the flag is turned off when the handset goes from off-hook to on-hook, so that only when communication is in progress. Since the holding tone can be transmitted, useless holding tone transmission is prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the contents stored in a melody data table, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation during a call, and FIG. ) And (b) are operation flowcharts at the time of outgoing call in another embodiment, and FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart at the time of incoming call in the embodiment. 1. Facsimile image processing unit 2. Modem 2a
Modulation / demodulation circuit, 2c ... tone signal detection circuit, 3 ... communication control circuit, 4 ... handset, 5 ... switching circuit, 6 ...
Transformer 7 Switch circuit 8 Call detection circuit
10… RAM, 11… Operation display section, 11a… Automatic manual switching key, 11b …… Hold key, 11c …… Hold release key, 11d…
Display unit, 12 ... tone ringer, 13 ... Control unit.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04M 1/00 H04M 11/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A telephone having a function of transmitting a hold tone to a destination while a call is interrupted, detects a line disconnection of the destination telephone by detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line. Detecting means, connect the call circuit to the line during a call while disconnecting the detecting means from the line, and disconnect the call circuit from the line during transmission of a hold tone to the other party while the call is interrupted. Switching means for disconnecting and connecting the detection means to the line, and line disconnection means for disconnecting the line and stopping transmission of the hold tone when the line disconnection is detected by the detection means. A featured telephone. 2. A telephone equipped with a function of transmitting a hold tone to a called party during a period in which a call is interrupted, by detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line to detect disconnection of the called telephone. Detecting means, connect the call circuit to the line during a call while disconnecting the detecting means from the line, and disconnect the call circuit from the line during transmission of a hold tone to the other party while the call is interrupted. Switching means for disconnecting and connecting the detection means to the line; line disconnection means for cutting off the line of the telephone when the detection of the line disconnection is detected by the detection means to stop sending the hold sound; Display means for displaying that the other party has disconnected the line when the line disconnection of the destination telephone is detected. 3. The telephone set of claim 1, further comprising: a modem for transmitting a hold tone to the other party during the period in which the call is interrupted, and detecting a predetermined tone signal from the line. 3. The telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a function of said detection means for detecting disconnection of said line. 4. A telephone having a function of transmitting a hold tone to a destination while a call is interrupted, a response determining means for determining that the destination answers after a dial operation, and Call detection means for detecting a call signal; flag setting means for turning on a flag indicating that communication is in progress when the response determination means determines a response of the other party or when the call detection means detects a call signal; Hook state determination means for detecting the hook state of the handset, hold operation means for instructing the interruption of the call, and when the handset is off-hook and the flag is on when the interruption operation is instructed by the hold operation means. Means for transmitting a hold tone only, and a flag reset for turning off the flag when the handset goes off-hook to on-hook. And a telephone set.