Dictaphone Corporation.

Other

John J Dwyer

Jeremy Saltzman

David B Chamberlin

Emil F Jachmann

Betsy L Hipp

John J Pawlowski

David K Godin

Stephen Rothschild

Mark N Harris

Daniel F Daly

Salvatore J Morlando

Mark Sekas

Shamla V Sharma

Richard G Rutkowski

Thomas C Grandy

Richard S Colon, Sr

Sandor F Weisz

John W Hoover

Jy-Hong J Su

Suzanne N Grey

John C Vaughan

Judith Dixon-Otton

Brian F Beloin

Terrence M Doeberl

A portable digital voice recorder is interfaced for data communication with a personal computer. The personal computer is connected by a data communication network with other devices such as other personal computers, a central dictation system, and/or a voice mail system. Voice data files previously generated by dictating information into the portable recorder are stored in the portable recorder and then uploaded to the personal computer. The voice data files include header data associated with the voice data files. The personal computer reads the header data and automatically forwards the voice data file to one or more of the other devices on the basis of information contained in the header data.

Intelligent routing of voice files in voice data management system

A portable digital voice recorder is interfaced for data communication with a personal computer. Voice data files are stored in the portable recorder together with header data which indicates the status of the voice data files. In response to a batch upload command, selected ones of the voice data files are uploaded to the personal computer, depending on the status of the voice data files as indicated by the status data. Graphical user interface software running in the PC causes the PC to display icons indicative of voice data files stored in the portable recorder. The header data in the portable recorder may be changed by operation of the PC's graphical user interface. For example, file designations indicated by header data in the portable recorder may be changed by editing corresponding fields displayed by the PC.

Voice file management in portable digital audio recorder

A portable audio recorder stores voice information files in the form of digital data. Header data is associated with each voice information file. The header data includes the name of the person who dictated the voice information file and the serial number of the recorder unit itself. This information may be used in connection with management of the voice information files in the recorder or after the files are transferred to another device such as a personal computer. The header data may also include the serial number of the recorder and a work facility location to which the file pertains. The user of the recorder may be permitted to select a format for the header data from among a plurality of pre-stored formats. Specific transaction data may be downloaded to the recorder, and used to build a header for a voice file, which is then uploaded with the header to another device.

Voice file header data in portable digital audio recorder

A portable digital audio recorder provides a first set of control or editing options with respect to a first category of voice data files stored in the recorder, and provides a different set of control or editing options with respect to a second category of voice data files stored in the recorder. The recorder may also be conveniently shared among a number of users and adapts various operating parameters to the preferences of the current user.

Portable digital audio recorder with adaptive control configurations

An interface chip is capable of receiving requests from two processors and coordinating the flow of the data therebetween. The chip functions as a dual port controller for interaction of associated RAMs and processors of a voice processing system. A plurality of interfaces of the instant invention can be placed in communication with a host computer (PC) of a voice processing system that determines the priority of requests that are received from units of the system. The interface circuits are in communication with the host computer for the purpose of accepting requests in sequence and outputting data over a bus. The host computer is in communication with a RAM interface of each chip that interfaces local peripheral board processor through a dual port RAM which resides on the peripheral board. The interface chip contains the circuitry that creates communication with the resident RAM.

Voice processor interface chip with arbitration unit

A time division multiplexer (TDM) chip having particular application in a digital voice processing system wherein voice processing functions are run in software. The TDM chip has a pair of RAMs which are in communication with a bus and at least one interface that provides communication with other devices. An bank switch controls the RAMs so that their communication with the bus and the interface alternates, i.e. while the first RAM is in communication with the interface the other RAM is in communication with the bus. After a determined period the communications are reversed. This scheme provides faster processing and more efficient use of the components. Including is a provision for allowing multiple interfaces to communicate with the RAM alternatively in a time shared manner.

Time division multiplexer chip for supporting alternating communication

A digital voice processing system wherein voice processing functions are run in software. This application of software allows a modular structure because the application software resides in boards that are coupled to a host computer. With this structure, the software can be updated as required and the capacity of the system can be readily expanded to meet increased needs.

Modular digital voice processing system

A dictation transcription system having a recording/playback module and a display module which are detachably connectable to form an integral structure. The display module provides a visual display of the length, locations and types of messages by storing and utilizing display data. This display data is generated during a dictate operation and, when dictation is 'finished', the display data is recorded on the record medium. Subsequently, and preferably, prior to transcription of the dictated messages, the record medium is scanned for the display data which then controls a transcriptionist's display module to reproduce the visual indication originally derived during dictation.

Display for modular dictation/transcription system

A display for providing visual indications of the lengths of recorded messages, the positions of recorded instructions and the present relative location of a record medium. Three separate arrays are provided for these indications, respectively. Each recorded message may be a letter, note, memo, etc., and is indicated by steady-state energization of segments included in a first (letter) array. 'Priority' messages are represented by a distinctive indication, such as by flashing the appropriate segments in that array. Similarly, 'normal' and 'special' instructions are represented by two different, distinctive indications, such as steady-state and flashing energization of particular segments in a second (instruction) array.

A modular dictation/transcription system is described comprising a modular construction wherein the system is composed of a set of modules which are detachably connectable to each other. Connection or detachment of individual modules from the system configures the system to provide such functions as may be required while deleting such functions which are not necessary. Included within the modules are one or more recording/playback modules a display module and a telephone module. All of the modules interact with each other in accordance with preselectable functions to provide for a more efficient utilization of the dictation/transcription system. Clusters of the modules may be arranged as stations, with the stations connected by a digital communication link.

Modular dictation/transcription system

A dictation transcription system having two or more recording/playback modules and a display module, all of which are detachably connectable to form an integral structure. The display module provides a visual display of the length, locations and types of messages recorded on either recording/playback module by storing and utilizing display data derived from either active module. This display data is generated and displayed during a dictate operation. When one recording/playback module is disposed in an inactive mode, its display data is stored and the display data derived from the other module if active, now is displayed.

Modular dictation/transcription system having plural recording modules

A dictation/transcription system wherein identifying signals are recorded with audio messages. One of at least two different types of identifying signals, such as single or double bursts of cue tones, together with a block of digital data are recorded. The digital data block is comprised of fields of data for providing additional message identifying information, such as message type, time and date of recording, author identification and the location of the message on the record medium.

Cue signals and cue data block for use with recorded messages

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.

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Stratford, CT, United States of America

John J Dwyer