Dictaphone Corporation.

Other

Nicholas A D'Agosto, Iii

David B Chamberlin

Emil F Jachmann

Jy-Hong J Su

Jeremy Saltzman

Mark N Harris

John Sheffield

Gary S Sevitsky

Robert T Paulson

Suzanne N Grey

Lynn Connellly

Alan S Rubinstein

Ernest D Hoffman

Steven M Smith

A portable digital audio recorder is operable with solid state memory cards having varying storage capacities. When a memory card is installed in the recorder, the recorder determines the storage capacity of the memory card. The recorder then automatically selects a recording mode based on the detected storage capacity of the memory card. When the memory card has a high storage capacity, the recorder'selects a high-quality recording mode, with low or, no data compression. When the storage capacity of the memory card is relatively small, the recorder selects a high-compression recording mode.

Automatic selection of recording mode in portable digital audio recorder

A palm top computing device includes a rocker switch used to navigate among files stored in the computing device and/or among functions that may be selectable by a user. One function selectable by the user is a dictation mode of operation of the computing device. In the dictation mode, three positions of the rocker switch&mdash;&ldquo;in&rdquo;, &ldquo;up&rdquo; and &ldquo;down&rdquo;&mdash;are respectively employed to actuate basic dictation functions such as record, rewind and play.

Palm top computer in which rocker switch controls dictation functions

The proceedings of a business meeting are recorded on a portable digital audio recorder. The resulting digitized speech signals are uploaded to a personal computer which is part of a data communication network. Users of the network may arrange to access the uploaded digitized speech signals for downloading to the user's location. The downloaded digitized speech signals are audibly reproduced at the location of the requesting user.

Automatic distribution of voice files

A portable sound recording device includes a microphone, a speaker and recording/playback circuitry connected to the microphone and speaker. The recording/playback circuitry includes a recording medium such as a removable solid state memory card. A control circuit controls operation of the recording/playback circuitry on the basis of input signals generated by a user via an operating switch array. The switch array includes a record switch. If the record switch is actuated for only a brief period of time, a record-lock mode of operation is implemented. If the record switch is actuated for a longer period of time, a momentary-record mode is entered which lasts only as long as the record switch remains in an actuated position.

Enhanced user control operations for portable digital audio recorder

A sound recording system includes a hand microphone with a plurality of operation switches mounted on the hand microphone. The switches include a record switch. The system also includes a sound recording device which is connected by a signal path to the hand microphone and records sound information generated at the hand microphone. Control circuitry included in the hand microphone and/or in the sound recording device controls operation of the sound recording device on the basis of input signals generated by the user via the operating switch array. If the record switch is actuated for only a brief period of time, a record-lock mode of operation is implemented. If the record switch is actuated for a longer period of time, a momentary-record mode is entered which lasts only as long as the record switch remains in an actuated position.

Enhanced user control operations for sound recording system

A system for storing and forwarding voice signals. The system provides for central, digital storage of voice signals for later access by addressee system users. When addresses access a previously stored voice signal they have the capability to incrementally construct a reply by 'toggeling' between a playback state, to listen to the previously stored signal and a record state to record at least a partial response. In another embodiment originators of voice signals have the capability to edit signals after storage.

Method and apparatus for storing and forwarding voice signals and

The network is particularly useful in office communications. The network includes a plurality of transceiver units, each of which can be used as a telephone, or as a dictation terminal, or optionally as an automatic telephone answering machine. The network includes a personal computer for performing various communications and communication control functions. A private branch telephone exchange ('PBX') can be included. Preferably, each transceiver unit includes a visual display for displaying messages. Messages can be sent from the computer to the transceiver units, or from one transceiver unit to another. The messages can be pre-set standard messages, or messages created uniquely. A telephone or PBX operator may send messages through the network reporting missed telephone calls, thus avoiding the need for written notes or other memoranda. The personal computer is used to send, forward, store and log messages. It can do telephone call accounting. It also can create, store, transmit to and receive from the transceiver units telephone directories for each transceiver unit. The computer also can keep a dictation log and a log of automatic telephone answering machine communications. It also can be used for ordinary computing or work processing functions simultaneously with its use in most of its other functions. The computer stores and retrieves information regarding appointments that the users of the network may have. Daily, weekly and monthly appointment calendars are provided for every user of the network. Then the user is given a reminder message through the network at a predetermined time prior to the appointment.

Communications network and method

A programmable telephone/dictation terminal that can be disposed in any one of several different modes of operation including, but not limited to, dictating information onto a recorder, communicating over a telephone network, recording incoming messages received via a telephone line, preventing a telephone dial out operation and communicating 'text' messages with a supervisory console. The terminal is provided with several programmable keys each being assignable by the terminal user with a particular function such that, upon the simple operation of that key, the assigned function is carried out. The user may change the function to which a particular programmed key is assigned, as desired.

Programmable telephone/dictation terminal and method of operating same

A multiline access module for connection of a number of telephone lines to a station set. The station set is controlled by a microprocessor and communicates with the access module through a communications channel to select one telephone line for connection to the station and to read the line status, ringing, on-hook, seized, no connection, or hold, for each line; the microprocessor controlling audible and visual indicators accordingly. The access module monitors voltage levels on each line to determine the line status. Each access module includes apparatus for connection to first and second groups of telephone lines and when two modules are interconnected by an appropriately polarized cable each will activate a different connection apparatus, allowing two modules to be connected in parallel for greater line capacity.

Multi-line access module for telephone set

Telephone number information representing a name and a telephone number is entered into the memory of an automatic dialer, either by actuating a telephone dial-type keypad or by reading that information from a magnetic recording medium. When utilizing the keypad to generate telephone number information, actuation of the keys in one mode generates digital signals representing alphabetic characters constituting a name, and actuation of those same keys in a second mode generates digital signals representing numerical characters constituting the telephone number associated with that name. The telephone number information is stored as a telephone directory in record blocks which may be revised or deleted, in whole or in part, to carry out a telephone number edit operation. The stored record blocks may be read out from the memory and written onto the magnetic recording medium of a recorder, such as dictating machine, from which the recorded telephone directory may be downloaded to another automatic dialer. Several telephone instruments incorporating automatic dialers may be connected in a network having a central store in which telephone number information generated at each instrument is stored and at which the telephone number information stored in any or all of the memories of the telephone instruments may be revised.

Method and apparatus for creating and storing telephone directory

A telephone terminal or a combined telephone-dictation terminal is disclosed. Such telephone apparatus includes a handset having a microphone and a speaker together with a speakerphone having a microphone and a speaker. Such telephone apparatus also includes a hook switch, which detects on-hook and off-hook conditions of the handset, a speakerphone switch, and a control mechanism, which is responsive to the hook switch and the speakerphone switch. The control mechanism may successively enable and disable at least one of the speakerphone microphone and the speakerphone speaker in response to successive operations of the speakerphone switch during the on-hook condition. Preferably, such a control mechanism (a) enables the speakerphone microphone and the speakerphone speaker when the speakerphone switch is operated a first time during the on-hook condition; (b) disables the speakerphone microphone when the speakerphone switch is operated a second time during the on-hook condition; and (c) reenables the speakerphone microphone when the speakerphone switch is operated a third time during the on-hook condition. The control mechanism may enable the headset microphone and the headset speaker in response to a change from the on-hook condition to the off-hook condition and then enable the speakerphone speaker when the speakerphone switch is operated a first time during the on-hook condition. Such a control mechanism desirably disables the headset microphone when the speakerphone switch is operated a second time during the off-hook condition and reenables the headset microphone when the speakerphone switch is operated a third time during the off-hook condition.

Telephone device and method for operating a telephone device

A remote terminal for connection to telephone lines to enable an operator thereat to communicate with dictation apparatus. The remote terminal includes a power supply which receives the DC power normally applied to the telephone line to derive energizing power therefrom for powering the terminal. An audio coupling circuit couples audio frequency signals to and from the telephone lines and is selectively connected to a handset by which the operator may transmit and receive speech signals over the telephone lines, or to a headset by which the operator may receive dictated information from the dictation apparatus. Function control switches, such as foot-pedal switches, are selectively operable to control the dictation apparatus, and a mode selector serves to select either a telephone operating mode for the remote terminal, whereby the function control switches are rendered inoperative, or a dictate/transcribe operating mode for the remote terminal, whereby the function control switches are rendered operative. A processor, such as a microprocessor, powered by the power supply, is responsive to the mode selector and to the function control switches for controlling the operating mode of the remote terminal and for enabling the remote terminal to communicate with the dictation apparatus.

Remote terminal for use with central dictation apparatus

Apparatus for monitoring and displaying the activity of an information processing system, such as a central dictation system, having plural recorders, plural originating stations for supplying information jobs to be recorded on the recorders, and recovery stations for recovering information jobs from those recorders. The activity which is monitored and displayed includes the availability of respective recorders to receive information from originating stations, the lengths of information jobs which have been recorded and now await recovery, the expected recovery delay in recovering a new information job to be recorded on a recorder, and the number of information jobs in each recorder that are awaiting recovery. The apparatus includes a processor which senses the aforementioned activity and controls a video display for displaying same.

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Trumbull, CT, United States of America

Nicholas A D'Agosto, Iii