Multifunction printer that converts and prints voice data

• US 20040034529A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hooper, Howard Gaines III
• Application Number:
  US10/217,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2025/783 based on threshold decision

Abstract

A method, program product, and printer, for recording voice data at a printer or fax or copier device, the method comprising the steps of: selecting to print voice data; porting the voice data to a voice recognition module; converting the voice data to digital data; and converting the digital data to print data.

Claims

1. A method of recording voice data at a printer or fax or copier device, comprising the steps of:

selecting to print voice data;

porting the voice data to a voice recognition module;

converting the voice data to digital data; and

converting the digital data to print data.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the porting step comprises porting the voice data from one of a voice device, telephone, or voicemail server.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising determining whether data is voice data or non-voice data and only porting the data to the voice recognition module if the data is voice data.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising converting non-voice data to digital data.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining source data for the voice data; and

adding a header containing the source data to the digital data.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising faxing the digital data.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the digital data to a location in a network.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the digital data to a web site.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of printing the print data.

10. A printer comprising:

an input module for receiving voice data;

a voice recognition converter for converting received voice data to digital data;

a data modem for converting non-voice data to digital data;

a printer formatter for converting the digital data to print data; and

a print engine for printing print data.

11. The printer as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

a line interface unit for determining if data from the input module is voice data or non-voice data and sending only voice data to the voice recognition converter, and sending non-voice data directly to the data modem.

12. The printer as defined in claim 10, further comprising a communications module for transmitting non-voice digital data from the voice recognition converter to an external network.

13. The printer as defined in claim 10, wherein the input module receives signal data from a telephone line or wireless, and further includes memory for storing the received signal data.

14. A program product for recording voice data at a printer or fax or copier device, comprising machine-readable program code to perform the following method steps:

receiving voice data;

selecting to print the voice data;

converting the voice data to digital data; and

converting the digital data to print data.

15. The program product as defined in claim 14, further comprising code to perform the step of determining whether data is voice data or non-voice data and only using a voice recognition conversion if the data is voice data.

16. The program product as defined in claim 15, further comprising code for converting the non-voice data to digital.

17. The program product as defined in claim 14, further comprising code for performing the steps of:

obtaining source data for the voice data; and

adding a header containing the source data to the voice digital data.

18. The program product as defined in claim 14, further comprising code to perform the step of printing the print data.

19. The program product as defined in claim 14, further comprising the code for performing the step of transmitting the voice digital data to a different location in a network.

20. A device for printing voice data at a printer or fax or copier device, comprising:

means for receiving voice data;

means for converting received voice data to digital data;

means for converting non-voice data to digital data;

means for converting the digital data to print data; and

means for printing the print data.