Answering machine and method for controlling the answering machine

Abstract

The present invention provides an answering machine and a control method thereof that allows for visual recognition of whether or not a response is required to a recorded message. [Solution] The answering machine includes a touch panel display and a control unit that acquires text data obtained by transcribing the answering machine message, determines whether or not a response to the answering machine message is required based on the text data, changes the display of the response button on the touch panel display based on the result of the determination, and performs the response process when the operation of pressing the response button is detected by the touch panel display.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an answering machine and a method for controlling the answering machine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile communication terminal. In the mobile communication terminal, an answering message is converted into characters and displayed. At that time, a portion of the voice data having a volume value larger than a predetermined volume value is changed to emphasized characters in bold. Further, the display characters are changed in consideration of data display change information corresponding to the caller ID (paragraphs 0012, 0024, 0025, and 0027).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the mobile communication terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1, regardless of whether a response to the answering message is required, the display of the answering message is the same. Therefore, even when the display of the answering message is visually recognized, it is impossible to visually recognize whether a response to the answering message is required.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure has been made in view of this problem. One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide, for example, an answering machine capable of visually recognizing whether a response to an answering message is required and a control method thereof.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An answering machine according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a touch panel display and a control unit that acquires text data obtained by transcribing an answering machine message, determines whether or not a response to the answering machine message is required based on the text data, changes the display of the response button on the touch panel display based on the result of the determination, and performs processing for the response when the operation of pressing the response button is detected by the touch panel display.

[0007] A method for controlling an answering machine according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes: obtaining text data transcribed from an answering machine message; determining whether a response is required based on the text data; changing the display of the response button on the touch panel display based on the result of the determination; and performing the response processing when the operation of pressing the response button is detected by the touch panel display. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of the answering machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of the control unit provided in the answering machine of the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] This figure illustrates an example of a first screen displayed on the touch panel display of the answering machine in the first embodiment when the determination unit provided in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. [Figure 3B] This figure illustrates an example of a second screen displayed on the touch panel display of the answering machine in the first embodiment when the determination unit in the answering machine determines that no response is required to the answering machine message. [Figure 4A]This figure illustrates an example of a first screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine when a determination unit provided in the answering machine of a first modified example of the first embodiment determines that a response to an answering machine message is required. [Figure 4B] This figure illustrates an example of a second screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine in a first modified example of the first embodiment when a determination unit provided in the answering machine determines that no response is required to the answering machine message. [Figure 5A] This figure illustrates an example of a first screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine when a determination unit provided in the answering machine of a second modified example of the first embodiment determines that a response to an answering machine message is required. [Figure 5B] This figure illustrates an example of a second screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine in a second modified example of the first embodiment when a determination unit provided in the answering machine determines that no response is required to the answering machine message. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart showing the processing flow performed by the control unit provided in the answering machine of the first embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0010] 1. First Embodiment 1.1 Answering machine Figure 1 is a block diagram of an answering machine according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The answering machine 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a smartphone. The answering machine 1 may be an answering machine other than a smartphone. For example, the answering machine 1 may be a feature phone, a landline phone, etc.

[0012] The answering machine 1 is communicably connected to the mobile communication network N. The answering machine 1 makes a call with another telephone connected to the mobile communication network N.

[0013] The answering machine 1 has an answering machine function. Therefore, when there is an incoming call while the user is away, the answering machine 1 records the answering message sent from another telephone and stores the answering message data indicating the recorded answering message. When an operation instructing to play back the answering message is performed, the answering machine 1 plays back the answering message indicated by the stored answering message data. The answering message is also called an answering machine message, a memo, a message, a message memo, etc.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the answering machine 1 includes a communication unit 101, a speaker 102, a microphone 103, a touch panel display 104, and a control unit 105.

[0015] The communication unit 101 is communicably connected to the mobile communication network N. The communication unit 101 transmits voice data indicating voice to the mobile communication network N and receives voice data indicating voice from the mobile communication network N. The communication unit 101 is composed of an electronic circuit, an antenna, etc. The communication unit 101 may be communicably connected to a public switched telephone network, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, etc.

[0016] The speaker 102 emits a voice corresponding to the input voice signal.

[0017] The microphone 103 outputs a voice signal corresponding to the input voice.

[0018] The touch panel display 104 displays a screen and detects operations performed thereon.

[0019] The control unit 105 controls the communication unit 101, the speaker 102, the microphone 103, and the touch panel display 104.

[0020] When there is an incoming call from another telephone and an operation to respond to the incoming call is performed on the touch panel display 104, the control unit 105 starts processing for a call, and when an operation to end the call is performed on the touch panel display 104, the control unit 105 ends the processing for the call. The processing for the call includes causing the communication unit 101 to transmit voice data corresponding to the voice signal output by the microphone 103 and causing the speaker 102 to emit voice corresponding to the voice data received by the communication unit 101.

[0021] When the answering machine function is enabled and there is an incoming call from another telephone but an operation to respond to the incoming call is not performed on the touch panel display 104, the control unit 又は the processing for the answering machine. The processing for the answering machine includes causing the communication unit 101 to transmit voice data corresponding to the response message, recording an answering machine message corresponding to the voice data received by the communication unit 101, and storing answering machine message data indicating the recorded answering machine message.

[0022] The control unit 105 is composed of a system-on-chip (SoC), peripheral circuits, etc. The SoC incorporates a processor, a memory, and a processing circuit. The processor executes a program stored in the memory to operate the SoC, peripheral circuits, etc. as the control unit 105. All or part of the processing performed by the processor may be performed by a dedicated circuit.

[0023] 1.2 Control Unit Figure 2 is a block diagram of the control unit provided in the answering machine of the first embodiment.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 105 includes an input unit 111, a storage unit 112, a speech recognition unit 113, a summarization unit 114, a determination unit 115, a display control unit 116, and a response control unit 117.

[0025] The input unit 111 receives the answering machine message data.

[0026] The memory unit 112 stores the input answering machine message data.

[0027] The speech recognition unit 113 obtains text data from the stored answering machine message data. The obtained text data is text data that is a transcription of the answering machine message, and represents a string of characters that indicates the content of the answering machine message. When obtaining the text data, the speech recognition unit 113 performs speech recognition on the answering machine message data and converts the answering machine message data into text data.

[0028] The summarization unit 114 obtains a summary of the acquired text data. The summarization unit 114 obtains a summary from the entire acquired text data, for example, using artificial intelligence (AI) or the like.

[0029] The determination unit 115 determines whether a response to the voicemail message is required based on the acquired text data. For example, the determination unit 115 determines whether a response to the voicemail message is required based on the entire acquired text data using a generation AI or the like.

[0030] The display control unit 116 controls the display of the screen on the touch panel display 104. The display control unit 116 includes an answer button on the screen to be displayed and includes the entirety of the acquired summary or text data on the screen to be displayed. The display control unit 116 changes the display of the answer button on the touch panel display 104 based on the result of the determination of whether or not an answer is required for the answering machine message. This allows the user of the answering machine 1 to visually recognize whether or not an answer is required for the answering machine message from the display of the answer button.

[0031] The response control unit 117 controls the response to voicemail messages. When the response control unit 117 detects that the displayed response button has been pressed by the touch panel display 104, it performs processing for responding to the voicemail message. This processing includes making a call back to the caller.

[0032] A server on the mobile communication network N may store the answering machine message data, and the answering machine 1 may retrieve the answering machine message data from the server. Alternatively, the server may convert the answering machine message data into text data, and the answering machine 1 may retrieve the text data from the server.

[0033] 1.3 Changes in the screen displayed on the touch panel display Figure 3A illustrates an example of a first screen displayed on the touch panel display of the answering machine in the first embodiment when the determination unit in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. Figure 3B illustrates an example of a second screen displayed on the touch panel display of the answering machine in the first embodiment when the determination unit in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required.

[0034] If the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is required, the display control unit 116 displays the first screen 121 shown in Figure 3A on the touch panel display 104. If the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required, the display control unit 116 displays the second screen 122 shown in Figure 3B on the touch panel display 104.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, each of the first screen 121 and the second screen 122 includes a text display area 131, a response button display area 132, and a short message service (SMS) button display area 133.

[0036] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the display control unit 116 displays the summary string 141 and the link string 142 in the string display area 131. The summary string 141 shows the content of the summary. In response to the touch panel display 104 detecting an operation to press the link string 142, the display control unit 116 displays the full text string, which shows the entire content of the text data, in the string display area 131 instead of the summary string 141.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3A, the display control unit 116 displays the answer button 151 in the answer button display area 132 when the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. Also, as shown in Figure 3B, the display control unit 116 does not display the answer button 151 in the answer button display area 132 when the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required. As a result, the user of the answering machine 1 can visually recognize whether a response to the answering machine message is required or not based on the presence or absence of the answer button 151 displayed in the answer button display area 132.

[0038] If the display control unit 116 determines that a response to the answering machine message is required, it will display the SMS button 152 in the SMS button display area 133 to launch the SMS application. However, if the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required, the SMS button 152 does not need to be displayed in the SMS button display area 133.

[0039] The determination unit 115 may determine whether the content of the answering machine message includes information related to schedule confirmation. If the determination unit 115 determines that the content of the answering machine message includes information related to schedule confirmation, the display control unit 116 may display a call button for calling the schedule function in the response button display area 132.

[0040] The determination unit 115 may determine whether the content of the voicemail message includes a topic related to meeting up. If the determination unit 115 determines that the content of the voicemail message includes a topic related to meeting up, the display control unit 116 may display a launch button for launching the map application in the response button display area 132.

[0041] The determination unit 115 may determine whether the content of the voicemail message includes a request to check the email. If the determination unit 115 determines that the content of the voicemail message includes a request to check the email, the display control unit 116 may display a launch button for launching the email application in the response button display area 132.

[0042] The determination unit 115 may determine whether the content of the voicemail message includes a request to check documents. If the determination unit 115 determines that the content of the voicemail message includes a request to check documents, the display control unit 116 may display a launch button in the response button display area 132 for launching a web browser application or a portable document format (PDF) reader application.

[0043] Figure 4A illustrates an example of a first screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine in the first modified example of the first embodiment when a determination unit provided in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. Figure 4B illustrates an example of a second screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine in the first modified example of the first embodiment when a determination unit provided in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required.

[0044] In the first modified example of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 4A, the display control unit 116 displays a first response button 161 having a first size in the response button display area 132 when the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. Also, as shown in Figure 4B, the display control unit 116 displays a second response button 162 having a second size smaller than the first size in the response button display area 132 when the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required. As a result, the user of the answering machine 1 can visually recognize whether or not a response to the answering machine message is required based on the size of the response button displayed in the response button display area 132.

[0045] Figure 5A illustrates an example of a first screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine in a second modified example of the first embodiment when a determination unit in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. Figure 5B illustrates an example of a second screen displayed on the touch panel display of an answering machine in a second modified example of the first embodiment when a determination unit in the answering machine determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required.

[0046] In the second modified example of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 5A, the display control unit 116 displays a first response button 171 having a first shape in the response button display area 132 when the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is required. Also, as shown in Figure 5B, the display control unit 116 displays a second response button 172 having a second shape different from the first shape in the response button display area 132 when the determination unit 115 determines that a response to the answering machine message is not required. This allows the user of the answering machine 1 to visually recognize whether a response to the answering machine message is required or not from the shape of the response button displayed in the response button display area 132. The first response button 171 is a button with the string "Important" added to the second response button 172. The added string may be replaced with a string other than "Important". For example, the added string may be replaced with the string "Reply Required". The added string may be replaced with a symbol, figure, image, etc.

[0047] 1.4 Processing Flow Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the processing flow performed by the control unit provided in the answering machine of the first embodiment.

[0048] In response to the input of answering machine message data into the input unit 111, the control unit 105 executes steps S101 to S108 shown in Figure 6.

[0049] In step S101, the storage unit 112 stores the input answering machine message data.

[0050] In the following step S102, the voice recognition unit 113 obtains text data from the stored answering machine message data.

[0051] In the following step S103, the summarization unit 114 obtains a summary of the acquired text data.

[0052] In the following step S104, the determination unit 115 determines whether a response to the answering machine message is required based on the acquired text data. If it is determined that a response is required, step S105 is executed. If it is determined that a response is not required, step S106 is executed.

[0053] In step S105, the display control unit 116 causes the first screen 121 to be displayed on the touch panel display 104.

[0054] In step S106, the display control unit 116 causes the second screen 122 to be displayed on the touch panel display 104.

[0055] Steps S104 to S106 cause the display of the answer button in the answer button display area 132 to change depending on whether an answer is required for the answering machine message. This allows the user of the answering machine 1 to visually recognize whether an answer is required for the answering machine message from the display of the answer button in the answer button display area 132.

[0056] In step S107, following step S105 or S106, the response control unit 117 determines whether an operation to press the response button has been detected by the touch panel display 104. If the operation is detected, step S108 is executed. If the operation is not detected, step S107 is executed.

[0057] In step S108, the response control unit 117 performs processing for responding to the answering machine message.

[0058] In steps S107 and S108, the response control unit 117 waits without starting processing for responding to the answering machine message until it detects that the response button has been pressed on the touch panel display 104, and starts processing for responding to the answering machine message in conjunction with the detection of the response button being pressed on the touch panel display 104.

[0059] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be replaced with configurations that are substantially the same as those shown in the embodiments, configurations that produce the same effects, or configurations that can achieve the same purpose. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1. Answering machine 101 Communications Department 102 speakers 103 Microphone 104 Touch Panel Display 105 Control Unit 111 Input Section 112 Storage section 113 Voice Recognition Unit 114 Summary Section 115 Judgment section 116 Display Control Unit 117 Response Control Unit 121 First screen 122 Second screen 131 Character string display area 132 Response button display area 133 SMS button display area 141 Summary string 142 Link string 151 Response button 161 First response button 162 Second response button 171 First response button 172 Second response button N Mobile communication network

Claims

1. Touch panel display and A control unit that obtains text data by transcribing the answering machine message, determines whether a response to the answering machine message is required based on the text data, changes the display of the response button on the touch panel display based on the result of the determination, and performs the response processing when the operation of pressing the response button is detected by the touch panel display, An answering machine equipped with a built-in answering machine.

2. Changing the display based on the above results includes displaying the response button on the touch panel display when it is determined that a response is necessary, and not displaying the response button on the touch panel display when it is determined that a response is not necessary. The answering machine described in claim 1.

3. Changing the display based on the above results includes displaying a first response button having a first size on the touch panel display when it is determined that a response is necessary, and displaying a second response button having a second size smaller than the first size on the touch panel display when it is determined that a response is not necessary. The answering machine described in claim 1.

4. Changing the display based on the above result includes displaying a first response button having a first shape on the touch panel display when it is determined that a response is necessary, and displaying a second response button having a second shape different from the first shape on the touch panel display when it is determined that a response is not necessary. The answering machine described in claim 1.

5. Obtaining text data transcribed from voicemail messages, Based on the aforementioned text data, a determination is made as to whether or not a response is required. Based on the result of the above determination, the display of the response button on the touch panel display is changed, When the operation of pressing the response button is detected by the touch panel display, the system will respond by performing the response processing, A method for controlling an answering machine, including its features.

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