GB2098433A - Message production arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A message production arrangement, in particular for a telephone installation, with which a keyboard 1 intended for other purposes also is connected to a synthesiser 3 and speech modules 4, 5. Speech messages contained in the arrangement 3, 4, 5 are completed by means of the keyboard 1 by a computer 6 to make information to be sent. A magnetic tape device 9 controlled by a computer 8 can be switched-on to receive information from a distant caller. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A message production arrangement This invention relates to a message production arrangement for use in producing a speech message to be transmitted by a speech communication installation. The invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to a message production arrangement for use in or with a telephone installation which is adapted for the automatic receipt of a call from a distant caller when the user of the telephone installation is absent, and for communication with the caller and recording information transmitted from the caller.

It is known for a telephone installation as described above to employ a magnetic tape device for automatically receiving telephone calls from a caller and for communicating back to the caller when the user of the telephone installation is absent, which device is controlled by electrical signals. Arrangements of this type generally repeat the actual speech of the user of the arrangement. What is disadvantageous for a magnetic tape device of this type is the employment of many mechanically moving components and the large amount of space required for the carrier of the destructible magnetic tape.

It is further known to feed the spoken signals to a semi-conductor write-read-memory, by means of pulse code modulation, retaining the actual speech of the user. Certainly the number of mechanically moving components is thus reduced but aiteration of a message stored in this manner can only be effected with difficulty, and the commercial expense as compared with arrangements which employ magnetic tape, is increased.

According to the present invention there is provided a message production arrangement for use in producing a speech message to be transmitted by a speech communication installation, the arrangement comprising a computer, and a keyboard, a synthesiser and speech modules coupled to the computer, the synthesiser and the speech modules being operable to provide parts of a speech message, and the keyboard being operable in conjunction with the computer to complete the speech message.

Preferably the arrangement is adapted for use in or with a telephone installation.

The computer may be a microcomputer.

An arrangement according to the invention may be operable such that said speech message can be monitored when a handset of the speech communication installation is lifted, or via an amplifier device.

An arrangement according to the invention may be operable to send recorded texts for a period of time preset by a programme.

The keyboard may be operable to control a trunking scheme via a computer.

The first-mentioned computer may be arranged to control a magnetic recording device for receiving messages. In this case the firstmentioned computer may be arranged to control said magnetic recording device via a further computer. Monitoring of messages recorded by the recording device may be computer controlled via the keyboard.

A preferred embodiment may be arranged to produce various information by combining predetermined texts or messages and to allow transmission of this information without employing the actual individual speech of the user of a telephone installation.

A preferred embodiment may achieve, in comparison with the acknowledged prior art, a more economical text or message production and processing by the use of predetermined speech messages as recorded texts, and the space required may be reduced so much that the entire arrangement may be built in the housing of a telephone device including an additional magnetic tape device for recording the information spoken by a caller.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show by way of example one form in which it may be put into effect, reference will now be made to the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which shows a telephone installation incorporating a message production arrangement according to the invention.

The telephone installation can be fed via a/b cables while the computer 8 for controlling the call-recording and the magnetic tape recording device 9 itself are not connected. A RAM memory can be fed by a battery and thus the content can be retained when the voltage fails.

The telephone installation is ready for operation in dependence upon the message production arrangement when the telephone hand-set is lifted, or when an amplifier device is switched on and the AB key of the keyboard 1 is actuated.

The telephone keyboard 1 is influenced by a switch 2 (key switch) with two positions S1, S2 and comprises in addition to keys with the numerals from one to zero, also four further keys bearing AB, a Z symbol, a star symbol, and a square symbol.

Depending on the position S1 or S2 of the switch 2 the calendar month and date and/or the time (twenty four hour clock) can be fed-in by the number keys, as explained in the example, by actuating the keyboard. In this way a speech message which is partially already present in speech modules 4 and 5, can be completed by the insertion of data from a synthesiser 3 in dependence upon the keyboard 1.

The switch 2 is advantageously constructed as a key switch to make it impossible for the information fed-in to be unintentionally changed.

To produce an outgoing telephonic communication VL the keyboard 1 is actuated and controls a computer 7 for the trunking scheme (destination dialling). Thus the key Z is actuated.

At the same time the computer 7 can control a device 10 for indicating the subscriber station called and/or dates, time etc.

The computer 6 controls the speech modules 4, 5 and the synthesiser 3. In this microprocessor 6 information considered necessary can be fed-in or produced, e.g. the times, wherein the hours 0 to 24 can be produced, and the minutes as full quarter hours 00, 15, 30, 45.

The following partial speech message, for example, can be predetermined by the speech modules 4 and 5 and, as will be further explained in the example of usage, it can be supplemented: 1. Hello, you are listening to computer information from telephone connection ...

Please appreciate that at the moment no-one can be reached in person.

2. The connection is attended during working hours from . . . to . . .

3. The connection will be attended again from 4. In emergencies please call number...

5. The apparatus is now disconnecting, thank you -- goodbye.

6. You can now leave a short message, please speak now.

7. Please leave your name, your telephone number and when you can be reached, please speak now.

By building up a continuous spoken text, i.e.

avoiding split up combinations of syllables, an advantageous effect is achieved.

After the sentences 6 and 7 there is heard in known fashion an acoustic request signal requesting the caller to begin transmission of his message, the duration of which is limited by a programme switch.

The above-mentioned partial speech message, for example, is predetermined by the user with sentences 1 and 5 always being necessary and the other sentences being optional.

After switching on the message production arrangement in a monitoring mode, sentence 1 for example can be completed by the addition of sample number (sequence of numbers) which can be replaced according to requirement by ones own subscriber number. After feeding-in ones own subscriber number by the keyboard 1 to complete sentence 1 , the sentence may then be repeated in its new version and heard. One may proceed in the same way to complete the other sentences with appropriate numerical data entered via the keyboard 1. This data is subsequently held in a special memory substained by a battery independent of the normal energy supply (mains voltage).

The whole desired recorded message can be composed by selecting the required respective sentence numbers from the individual sentences available and can be listened to so it can be revised.

If a recording device is associated with the message production arrangement, then in known manner this may be controlled via the computer 6 to receive, play back and delete the text, as required.

Claims (10)

1. A message production arrangement for use in producing a speech message to be transmitted by a speech communication installation, the arrangement comprising a computer, and a keyboard, a synthesiser and speech modules coupled to the computer, the synthesiser and the speech modules being operable to provide parts of a speech message, and the keyboard being operable in conjunction with the computer to complete the speech message.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 , which is adapted for use in or with a telephone installation.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer is a microcomputer.

4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, which is operable such that said speech message can be monitored when a handset of the speech communication installation is lifted, or via an amplifier device.

5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, which is operable to send recorded texts for a period of time preset by a programme.

6. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the keyboards operable to control a trunking scheme via a computer.

7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the first-mentioned computer is arranged to control a magnetic recording device for receiving messages.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said first-mentioned computer is arranged to control said magnetic recording device via a further computer.

9. An arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, wherein monitoring of messages recorded by the recording device is computer controlled via the keyboard.

10. An arrangement according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.