Dictaphone Corporation.

Betsy L Hipp

John Sheffield

Frederic Schneider

John J Dwyer

Jeremy Saltzman

Donald A Martin

Roger A Dumschott

Vincent F Antezzo

A hand microphone and an adaptor module form an assembly which is a peripheral device for a personal computer. The hand microphone is used to control dictation functions to be carried out by the PC. Two separate analog control signal channels are output from the hand microphone and applied, respectively, as X- and Y-axis inputs for the game port on the PC. Control signals carried in the two signal channels are generated by actuating control switches mounted on the hand microphone.

Hand microphone interfaced to game controller port of personal computer

A dictation system is formed of two personal computers connected by an e-mail system. A hand microphone with control switches is provided at one personal computer and a foot pedal is provided at the other personal computer. The hand microphone is used to generate a dictation file at the first personal computer. In response to actuation of a control switch on the hand microphone, the dictation file is transmitted via the electronic mail system to the second personal computer. The foot pedal at the second personal computer is used to control audible reproduction of the dictation file for the purpose of transcription at the second personal computer. The resulting text file is sent via the electronic mail system from the second personal computer to the first personal computer.

Dictation system employing computer-to-computer transmission of voice files controlled by hand microphone

A method and apparatus for indicating the number of the particular message that has been reached on a bi-directionally movable record medium used with a record/playback device. A position count is incremented and decremented as the record medium moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively; and end-of-message counts representing the locations of the ends of messages relative to an arbitrary reference location of the record medium are stored. Information representing the number of each message whose end-of-message count is stored is provided; and the number of the message which has been reached is determined as a function of which stored end-of-message count is greater than the present position count and which stored end-of-message count is less than that position count. To prevent ambiguities in determining the number of the message which has been reached, as when a new, partially used record medium is loaded into the record/playback device and is reversed to a location which precedes the reference location (i. e. the starting point of the record medium when it is loaded into the device), the position count is preset to a predetermined count when the record medium is replaced. This predetermined count is sufficient to prevent decrementing of the position count below zero, which would be interpreted as being greater than any of the stored end-of-message counts, even if the full amount of the newly-loaded record medium moves in the reverse direction.

Method and apparatus for preventing ambiguity in displaying the number

A variable mode numerical display for a record/playback device normally displays a numerical count representing the present position of the record medium used with that device and is operable to interrupt this normal display so as to display the number of a message that was last-recorded or that is in position for playback or to display the number of an instruction that was last-recorded or that has been reached. Also, a bar graph display is comprised of plural visual display elements which are selectively energized as a function of the interval that separates successive pulses that are generated in conjunction with the movement of the record medium. The variable mode and bar graph displays are controlled by a processor.

Display including variable mode for a record and/or playback device

A record and/or playback device whose operating mode is controlled by processor apparatus which is responsive to the selected operation of various operating control switches. The processor apparatus includes a sensor for sensing when the device is in an inactive mode, such as a 'stop' mode, a timer for determining when the device has remained in this inactive mode for a predetermined time, and means responsive to the timer for disposing the device in a dormant condition in which it does not respond to the operation of the operating control switches. Furthermore, the processor apparatus comprises a microprocessor which includes a counter that is incremented when the record medium of the device is moved, and a memory for storing respective counts corresponding to locations of the record medium at which 'cue' signals are recorded. When the record medium is moved, as during fast-forward and rewind operations, the changing count of the counter is compared to the counts stored in the memory and, when this comparison is positive, the movement of the record medium is interrupted. Stored counts are deleted when information is recorded over a cue signal; and additional counts are inserted into the memory when additional cue signals are inserted onto the medium.

Record and/or playback device with cue signal indication and access

A storage medium in which previously recorded messages are stored is scanned for instruction signals representing the occurrences of instructions in those messages. Following the aforementioned scanning, if a message in condition to be played back includes an instruction, a suitable display is provided. Another display is provided if any further messages, not yet in condition to be played back, include instructions.

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Orange, CT, United States of America

Betsy L Hipp