Abstract:
In a communication apparatus capable of selectively preventing the production of a caller&#39;s voice only during the recording of a message without requiring a user to change the message volume setting, a setting unit is provided for allowing setting to be made regarding whether or not the voice signal is to be produced as a voice to be monitored from a speaker simultaneously with the recording of the voice signal. A silencing control unit, including a CPU, performs control such that, if a setting has been made by the setting unit such that the caller&#39;s voice is not to be produced, output of the voice by the speaker is prevented or reduced to a substantially inaudible volume during the recording of the caller&#39;s voice signal. In the operation of recording an incoming message (ICM) from a caller, if the volume setting data for the ICM is OFF, the CPU stores the present speaker volume setting, and then sets the speaker volume to zero, so that no sound will be produced from the speaker during the subsequent recording of an ICM. After the recording of the ICM, the CPU sets the speaker volume back to the setting stored, so that sounds will be produced from the speaker at the volume level previously set by the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to a communication apparatus capable of recording a voice received from an external device and simultaneously outputting the voice being recorded. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many conventional telephones are equipped with an answering function for recording a message from a caller and are designed to output the voice being recorded, so the called party may monitor the caller&#39;s voice from a speaker separately provided. 
     With such an answering function-equipped telephone, a user can hear a message from a caller as the message is being recorded, if the user is around the telephone (or the speaker) but does not or cannot answer the call for some reason. That is, the user can hear the message without needing to listen to the recorded message later. 
     However, since the aforementioned conventional answering function-equipped telephones output a caller&#39;s voice from a speaker, the message can also be heard by a third person near the telephone (or the speaker). Thus, the conventional answering function-equipped telephones have a problem of being unable to assure the secrecy of messages. 
     Many conventional automatic answering function-equipped telephones allow a user to reduce the volume of the caller&#39;s voice to a low or zero level by operating a volume button. If the volume is thus reduced, it may become necessary for a user to re-operate the volume button in order to obtain a sufficiently audible volume when the user desires to hear a message. The potential need to repeat such a troublesome operation of the volume button is another problem of the conventional art. 
     Although the problems of the conventional art have been stated in conjunction with a telephone set, these problems can occur not only in telephones in a narrow definition, but also in any communication apparatus equipped with a similar function, such as, for example, a facsimile machine with a message recording function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a communication apparatus capable of selectively preventing the production of a caller&#39;s voice during the recording of a message without requiring a user to change the caller&#39;s voice volume setting. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a communication apparatus including a receiver unit capable of receiving a voice signal from an external device via a communication path, a recorder unit capable of recording the voice signal received by the receiver unit, and a voice outputting unit capable of audibly outputting the voice signal. A setting unit allows a setting to be made regarding whether the caller&#39;s voice signal is to be produced by the voice outputting unit simultaneously with recording of the voice by the recorder unit. A silencing control unit performs control such that, if a setting has been made by the setting unit such that the caller&#39;s voice is not to be produced, output of the caller&#39;s voice by the voice outputting unit is prevented or reduced to a low level such that it is impossible for a third person to hear the caller&#39;s voice during the recording of the voice signal by the recorder unit. 
     In this communication apparatus, the setting unit allows a user to select whether the caller&#39;s voice is to be produced. Therefore, the setting unit may be formed by any device as long as the device sets and maintains either one of two states corresponding to whether the caller&#39;s voice is to be produced, and allows these settings to be detected. More specifically, the setting unit may be formed by, for example, a switch changeable between the on and off states, a memory rewritable between two different values, or the like. 
     The silencing control unit makes it impossible for a person to hear or understand the content of a caller&#39;s message. As long as this is achieved, the unit may completely eliminate the caller&#39;s voice or reduce the volume thereof to a substantially inaudible level. 
     If a setting is made in this communication apparatus by the setting unit such that a caller&#39;s voice is not to be produced, the silencing control unit makes it impossible for a person to hear the content of the caller&#39;s message during the recording of voice signals by the recording unit, thereby eliminating the danger that a third person near the communication apparatus may hear the message during the recording. The secrecy of the message is thereby assured. When a voice signal is not being recorded by the recording unit, the silencing control unit does not make it impossible for a person to hear the content of the caller&#39;s message. Therefore, when a user desires to hear the recorded message later, the user can hear the caller&#39;s voice without needing to change the setting made by the setting unit. 
     The communication apparatus of the invention may further include a volume adjusting unit capable of adjusting the volume of the voice output by the voice outputting unit, wherein the silencing control unit performs control such that the output of a voice by the voice outputting unit is prevented or reduced to a substantially inaudible volume, regardless of volume adjustment by the volume adjusting unit. 
     This embodiment allows a user to change the volume of the caller&#39;s voice as desired or in accordance with the environment of the communication apparatus installed. Further, even if the volume of the caller&#39;s voice is adjusted by the volume adjusting unit, the production of the caller&#39;s voice is substantially prevented during the recording of voice signals. Thereby, the protection of the secrecy of message can be achieved. 
     The silencing control unit may employ various methods in order to completely eliminate the sound of the caller&#39;s voice or reduce the volume thereof to a substantially inaudible level. For example, some of these methods may include a method in which the operation of the volume adjusting unit is prevented, or invalidated, until the silencing control ends. Furthermore, it is also possible to employ a method in which although the sound volume is allowed to change in accordance with the amount of adjustment made by the volume adjusting unit, adjustment to the maximum volume by the volume adjusting unit actually achieves only a substantially inaudible volume of the caller&#39;s voice during the silencing control. Any of these and other methods may be employed by the silencing control unit as long as the intended effect of the unit can be achieved. 
     In this communication apparatus, it is impossible to hear the content of the caller&#39;s voice during the recording of voice signals by the recording unit as long as the setting content of the setting unit is such that the caller&#39;s voice is not to be produced. If the setting unit uses a setting switch whose switching function and method can easily be understood or guessed, there is a danger that a third person may intentionally alter the setting made by the user. In such a case, a caller&#39;s voice may be monitored during the recording of voice signals by the recording unit. Therefore, it is desirable to devise the system so that the setting content of the setting unit cannot easily be changed by a third person. 
     To this end, the communication apparatus of the invention may further include a setting changing unit that changes the setting made by the setting unit when a general-purpose operating key device is operated in a predetermined sequence. 
     With this setting changing unit provided, the general-purpose operating key device must be operated in a predetermined sequence in order to change the setting content of the setting unit. Therefore, a person who does not know the sequence cannot easily change the setting content of the setting unit. 
     The sequence of operating the general-purpose operating key device, which is used for purposes other than the purpose of changing the setting made by the setting unit, may be any specific key-operating sequence. If there is a need to enhance the protection of the setting content, the sequence may include inputting secret number or any other sequence pre-registered by a user. Thereby, it becomes substantially impossible for a person who does not know the registered sequence to change the setting content of the setting unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an external appearance of a facsimile apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein an upper cover is opened and an ink ribbon cartridge is detached; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control system of the facsimile apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an in-recording incoming message monitoring setting operation; 
     FIG. 5 is flowchart of an incoming message recording operation; and 
     FIG. 6 is flowchart of a sound volume changing operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     A communication apparatus according to this embodiment is a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting an image through a telephone line in a facsimile communication mode and also capable of functioning as a telephone to transmit voices. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus  1  has an exterior substantially formed by a lower case  1 A, an operating panel  1 B fixed to an upper surface of a forward portion of the lower case  1 A, and an upper cover IC mounted on an upper surface of a rearward portion of the lower case  1 A. 
     Mounted on the left side of the lower case  1 A is a handset  2  that may be used when the facsimile apparatus  1  is used as a telephone or may be used to hear a signal tone from an exchange. Disposed on the right side of the lower case  1 A is a speaker  3  for outputting voices and sounds (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “voices”) that are being transmitted and received. Formed in a front portion of the lower case  1 A is a document outlet  4  through which a document that has been scanned to obtain an image to be transmitted or copied, is discharged. The operating panel  1 B carries in its upper surface, a key input device  6  having many operating keys, and a liquid crystal display (LCD)  8  capable of displaying characters and the like, in a dot matrix mode. A paper sheet case  10  for housing recording sheets to be fed for recording, protrudes from a rear portion of an upper surface of the upper cover  1 C. Formed on a front side of the sheet case  10  is a recorded sheet outlet  12  through which a sheet carrying the recording of an image received from an external apparatus or a copy image scanned, is discharged. Formed on an upper surface of a forward portion of the upper cover  1 C is a document tray  14  for placing a document that is to be scanned to obtain an image to be transmitted or copied. 
     The upper cover  1 C is connected to the lower case  1 A so as to be pivotable about a rear end portion of the lower case  1 A, as shown in FIG.  2 . Therefore, the upper cover  1 C can be turned upward to an open position when an ink ribbon cartridge  16  is to be set in or replaced, or when the maintenance of an interior portion of the facsimile apparatus  1  is to be performed, or the like. The ink ribbon cartridge  16  has a pair of rolls that are respectively contained in an ink ribbon feeder portion  16 A and an ink ribbon recovering portion  16 B. An ink ribbon  16 C having approximately the same width as the recording sheets is supported by the two rolls, extending therebetween with an appropriate tension. The ink ribbon cartridge  16  is designed so that new portions of the ink ribbon  16 C are fed from the ink ribbon feeder portion  16 A and the used portions of the ink ribbon  16 C are wound up by the ink ribbon recovering portion  16 B as recording progresses. An upper side surface of the ink ribbon  16 C is coated with a hot-melt ink. During recording, a recording sheet is placed face-to-face on the ink-coated surface of the ink ribbon  16 C, and they are together conveyed through a gap between a platen roller and a line-type recording head having approximately the same width as the recording sheet. The thermal transfer recording of an image is thus performed. 
     A control system of the facsimile apparatus  1  will next be described in reference to FIG.  3 . The control system of the facsimile apparatus  1  includes a known CPU  21  for controlling the operations of various units and portions of the facsimile apparatus  1 , a ROM  22 , an EEPROM  23 , a RAM  24 , a printer unit  26 , a scanner unit  27 , a network control unit (hereinafter, referred to as NCU)  28 , a modem  29 , an amplifier  32 , a document sensor  34 , a recording sheet sensor  35 , an ink ribbon sensor  36 , an upper cover sensor  37 , and the like. The CPU  21  also controls the key input device  6  and the LCD  8 . 
     The ROM  22  stores various control programs executed by the CPU  21 , as well as various data and the like. The EEPROM  23  is a non-volatile memory capable of maintaining the data stored therein even when power is not supplied. The EEPROM  23  stores various setting data that are set and changed as desired by a user, and the like. The RAM  24  is a memory for temporarily storing various data while an operation is being executed. The RAM  24  has various storage areas, for example, a transmission image area for storing the image data of an image to be transmitted before it is actually transmitted, a received image area for storing the image data of an image received before it is printed, an outgoing message area for storing an outgoing message (hereinafter, referred to as “OGM”) that is transmitted to a caller or an external apparatus during an automatic answering mode, an incoming message area for storing an incoming message (hereinafter, referred to as “ICM”) received from a caller or an external apparatus during the automatic answering mode, and the like. 
     The printer unit  26  is a mechanism for performing thermal transfer recording on a recording sheet. More specifically, the printer unit  26  includes a conveying motor for conveying a recording sheet, a driver circuit connected between the conveying motor and the CPU  21 , a line-type recording head for performing thermal transfer recording on a recording sheet, a driver circuit connected between the recording head and the CPU  21 , and the like. The scanner unit  27  is a mechanism for optically reading an image from a document and converting the image into electric signals. More specifically, the scanner unit  27  includes a conveying motor for conveying a document, a line-type image sensor for reading an image from a document, a driver circuit connected between the image sensor and the CPU  21 , and the like. 
     The NCU  28  is a device for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from another facsimile apparatus through a telephone line. The modem  29  is a device for modulating and demodulating signals that are to be transmitted and have been received. The amplifier  32  is a circuit for amplifying the tone signals that are to be transmitted and have been received in order to output voices to the speaker  3 . 
     The document sensor  34  detects the presence/absence of a document set on the document tray  14 . The recording sheet sensor  35  detects the presence/absence of a recording sheet set in the paper sheet case  10 . The ink ribbon sensor  36  detects the presence/absence of the ink ribbon  16 C. The upper cover sensor  37  detects whether the upper cover  1 C is open or closed. These sensors detect whether an object of detection is present at a predetermined position. Each sensor may be formed by, for example, a contact sensor that switches on or off in accordance with the contact or non-contact with a detection object, an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element that are arranged so that a detection object will be located therebetween, an optical sensor having a light emitting element that emits light in the direction to a detection object and a light receiving element that receives light reflected from the object, and the like. 
     The facsimile apparatus  1  is connected to a telephone line  41  by the NCU  28 . The telephone line  41  is connected to an exchange  42 . An external communication apparatus (e.g., a facsimile apparatus, a telephone or the like)  44  is connected to the exchange  42  by a telephone line  43 . Alternatively, the facsimile device  1  may be wireless and communicate with other devices via a wireless communication network (not shown). 
     If one of the facsimile apparatus  1  and the external communication apparatus  44  outputs a request for connection to the other apparatus, the exchange  42  calls up the other apparatus. If the other apparatus answers the call, the exchange  42  connects the facsimile apparatus  1  and the external communication apparatus  44 , thereby enabling the two apparatuses to communicate. 
     An in-recording ICM monitoring setting operation performed by the facsimile apparatus  1  will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.  4 . The in-recording ICM monitoring setting operation sets whether, during the recording of an ICM, the ICM is to be simultaneously output from the speaker  3 . 
     In the facsimile apparatus  1 , the CPU  21  constantly monitors the operated state of the various operating keys of the key input device  6 . If “FUNCTION” key, “6” key, “6” key and “SET” key, for example, are sequentially operated in that order, the CPU  21  starts the in-recording ICM monitoring setting operation illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     When the in-recording ICM monitoring setting operation is started, the CPU  21  first reads setting data for in-recording ICM monitoring from the EEPROM  23  in step S 102 . This setting data is in the ON state when a voice is to be output, and it is in the OFF state when a voice is not to be output. After the setting data is read out, the CPU  21  displays the present setting on the LCD  8  in step S 104 . In this embodiment, either “MESSAGE MONITOR ON” or “MESSAGE MONITOR OFF” is displayed in accordance with the setting data. 
     Subsequently in step S 105 , the CPU  21  repeatedly checks whether any of the keys of the key input device  6  have been operated. If any of the keys of the key input device  6  is operated (YES in step S 105 ), the CPU  21  then checks in step S 106  whether the key operated is either a leftward arrow key (“←” key) or a rightward arrow key (“←” key). If either the leftward arrow key or the rightward arrow key has been operated (YES in step S 106 ), the CPU  21  changes the ON/OFF state of the setting data in step S 108 , and then returns to step S 104 . That is, the display on the LCD  8  can be alternately changed between “MESSAGE MONITOR ON” and “MESSAGE MONITOR OFF” by a user operating the leftward arrow key or the rightward arrow key. If the CPU  21  determines that neither the leftward arrow key nor the rightward arrow key has been operated (NO in step S 106 ), and then determines in step S 110  that the “SET” key is operated (YES in step S 10 ), that is, if the user has operated the “SET” key instead of operating either the leftward arrow key or the rightward arrow key, the CPU  21  stores the setting data at that time into the EEPROM  23  in step S 112 , and then ends this operation. 
     If an operating key of the key input device  6 , other than the leftward arrow key, the rightward arrow key and the “SET” key, is operated (NO in step S 106  and NO in step S 110 ), the CPU  21  causes an error sound to be produced in step S 114  in order to inform the user that an inappropriate key operation has been performed. Subsequently, the CPU  21  returns to step S 105  and waits for the operation on any key of the key input device  6 . 
     By the in-recording ICM monitoring setting operation described above, the ON or OFF state of the setting data is stored in a predetermined storage area provided in the EEPROM  23 . 
     An ICM recording operation will next be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.  5 . In the ICM recording operation, an ICM from a caller is recorded during the automatic answering mode. When the connection with a caller device (external apparatus) is established during the automatic answering mode, an OGM transmitting operation is performed to transmit a preset OGM to the external apparatus, before the ICM recording operation illustrated in FIG. 5, is started. 
     When the ICM recording operation is started, the CPU  21  first reads the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring from the EEPROM  23  in step S 202 . The CPU  21  then checks in step S 204  whether the setting data is in the OFF state. If the data is in the OFF state (YES in step S 204 ), the CPU  21  stores the present sound volume setting into the RAM  24  in step S 206 , and sets the sound volume to zero in step S 208 , thereby establishing a state where a sound is no longer produced from the speaker  3  regardless of the sound volume setting that the user has previously made. 
     Subsequently in step S 210 , the CPU  21  sets a timer for the ICM recording. In step S 212 , the CPU  21  operates to record an ICM. In the operation of step S 212 , the voices from the external apparatus are encoded into voice data by a predetermined waveform coding method, and the voice data is stored into the ICM storage area of the RAM  24 . In step S 214 , the CPU  21  determines whether the present state is either a busy tone state where a busy tone is being received from the exchange  42  or a continuously silent state where a silent state continues for a predetermined length of time . If the present state is neither the busy tone state nor the continuously silent state (NO in step S 214 ), the CPU  21  then determines in step S 216  whether a predetermined time has elapsed following the setting of the timer in step S 210 . If the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S 216 ), the CPU  21  returns to step S 212 . In this manner, the recording is continued while the operation in S 212 -S 216  is repeated. While the operation in S 212 -S 216  is being repeated, no sound is produced from the speaker  3 , so that there is no danger that a third person may hear the ICM. The secrecy of the ICM is thereby assured. 
     If a busy tone is received from the exchange  42 , a silent state continues at least for a predetermined length of time (YES in step S 214 ), or if the timer set in step S 210  times out (YES in step S 216 ), the CPU  21  stops the recording of the ICM in step S 218 . Subsequently in step S 220 , the CPU  21  sets the sound volume back to the value stored in the RAM  24  in step S 206 , thereby establishing a state where sounds will be produced from the speaker  3  at the volume preset by the user. 
     If the user operates the “VOLUME” key of the key input device  6 , the CPU  21  starts a volume changing operation illustrated in FIG. 6, regardless of whether the ICM recording operation is being performed. 
     When the volume changing operation is started, the CPU  21  first checks in step S 302  whether an ICM is being recorded. If an ICM is not being recorded (NO in step S 302 ), the CPU  21  sets a new sound volume level in accordance with the volume level before the “VOLUME” is operated and the amount of operation performed on the “VOLUME” key, in step S 304 . Subsequently in step S 306 , the CPU  21  displays the set volume level on the LCD  8 . Thereby, a state is established where sounds will be produced from the speaker  3  at the volume level displayed on the LCD  8 . 
     Conversely, if in step S 302  the CPU  21  finds that an ICM is being recorded (YES in step S 302 ), the CPU  21  reads the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring from the EEPROM  23  in step S 308 , and checks in step S 310  whether the setting data is in the OFF state. If the setting data is in the ON state (NO in step S 310 ), the operation in steps S 304  and S 306  is performed. If the setting data is in the OFF state (YES in S 310 ), the CPU  21  instead causes a reject sound to be produced in step S 312 . The volume changing operation is thereby completed. 
     Therefore, if an ICM is being recorded and the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring is in the OFF state, the sound volume is not changed, despite the operation of the “VOLUME” key. Therefore, since the sound volume was set to zero in the ICM recording operation, the state where no sound is produced from the speaker  3  is maintained even if the “VOLUME” key is operated. 
     With this facsimile apparatus  1 , if the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring stored in the EEPROM  23  is in the OFF state, the volume of sound from the speaker  3  is set to zero and the “VOLUME” key is disabled only during the ICM recording, so that the ICM being recorded will not be heard by a third person around the facsimile apparatus  1 . The secrecy of the ICM is thereby assured. When an ICM is not being recorded, sounds will be produced from the speaker  3  and the sound volume can be adjusted by operating the “VOLUME” key regardless of whether the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring is in the ON or OFF state. Therefore, when the user desires to hear the ICM later, the user can hear the ICM at a desired volume level, without needing to change the setting by using the above-described setting device. 
     Furthermore, the key operating sequence of “FUNCTION”, “6”, “6” and “SET” keys, for example, must be completed, in order to make it possible to change the ON/OFF state of the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring. Therefore, a person who does not know the key operating sequence cannot easily change the ON/OFF state of the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring. Further, since the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring is stored in the EEPROM  23 , the ON/OFF state of the setting data will be maintained even if a power-down occurs. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus  1  of this embodiment reduces the possibility of alteration of the ON/OFF state of the setting data by accident or with an intention by a third person, compared with an apparatus wherein a dedicated change switch is provided in a key input device, or an apparatus wherein the setting data is stored in a volatile memory. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with the embodiment, the invention can also be carried out in various other forms. 
     For example, although, in the facsimile apparatus  1 , the sound volume is reduced to zero at the time of the ICM recording if the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring is in the OFF state, it is also possible to reduce the sound volume to a very low level such that the content of an ICM cannot be heard or understood. The setting of the sound volume to zero provides the elimination of the danger that the ICM being recorded may be heard by a third person. The reduction of the sound volume to a very low level provides the indication that an ICM is being recorded. Therefore, the latter embodiment may be useful in an environment where there is no third person intending to hear an ICM. 
     Although the facsimile apparatus  1  is designed so that the sound volume can be adjusted by the “VOLUME” key, the invention may be applied to an apparatus that does not have a “VOLUME” key, or an apparatus wherein the volume of the voices being monitored cannot freely be changed. In such applications, the voices being monitored during the recording of an ICM can also be reduced to a very low or zero level. 
     Furthermore, although, in the facsimile apparatus  1 , the setting data of the in-recording ICM monitoring is allowed to be changed after a few general-purpose keys of the key input device  6  are operated in a predetermined sequence, the key operating sequence may include a sequence that can be changed as desired by a user in order to enhance the protection of the setting data. More specifically, it is also possible to provide a construction in which a user can pre-set and store a secret number, and keys must be operated in a sequence corresponding to the secret number in order to make it possible to change the setting data. Furthermore, since the registration of a secret number limits the keys to be operated to input the secret number to the number keys, this limitation may be eliminated by making all of the operating keys of the key input device  6  available for the registration of a secret code. With a secret code registered, keys must be operated in a sequence corresponding to the secret code in order to make it possible to change the setting data In any case, it becomes possible to change the setting data for the in-recording ICM monitoring only when general-purpose keys are operated in a predetermined sequence, so that the possibility of alteration of the setting data by a third person is considerably reduced. 
     Although the invention has been described in conjunction with the facsimile apparatus  1 , it should be apparent that the application of the invention is not limited to facsimile apparatuses. The invention may be applied to various communication apparatuses, for example telephones, personal computers with communication functions, and the like, as long as the communication apparatuses have a function of recording voices received from an external communication apparatus and a function of outputting voices from a speaker while recording. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, control of the voice signal output in the facsimile apparatus  1  is preferably implemented using the ROM  22 . However, the control of the voice signal output can also be implemented using the EEPROM  23 , a PROM, an EPROM, or a CD-ROM and floppy-disk drive, or the like. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular forms shown in the foregoing embodiment. Various modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.