Method and apparatus for converting a voice signal received from a remote telephone to a text signal

• US 20040057562A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaschke, Kevin D., Walsh, Patrick Jay, Nabilsi, Muna, Myers, Theodore James
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2753 providing data content
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/68 with means for recording information, e.g. telephone number during a conversation recording of telephone conversations H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

A telephone call is established between a local telephone (110) associated with a local party and a remote telephone (104) associated with a remote party. The local telephone (110) receives a voice signal from the remote telephone (104) responsive to establishing the telephone call. The voice signal represents directory assistance information, a name, a phone number or directions provided by the remote party. The local telephone (110) stores the voice signal in a memory unit (212) in the local telephone (110) responsive to receiving the voice signal. The local telephone (110) converts the voice signal to a text signal responsive to storing the voice signal. The local telephone (110) stores the text signal in the memory unit (214) in the local telephone (110) responsive to converting the voice signal to a text signal. The local telephone (110) edits the stored text signal in the memory unit responsive to storing the text signal. The local telephone (110) correlates the remote party'"'"'s identity with the stored voice and/or text signal responsive to storing the voice and/or text signal. The local telephone (110) uses the stored edited text signal to make a new telephone call or to transfer the stored edited text signal to another electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for converting a voice signal to a text signal comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call between a local telephone associated with a local party and a remote telephone associated with a remote party;

receiving a first voice signal from the remote telephone during the telephone call responsive to the step of establishing;

converting the first voice signal to a first text signal responsive to the step of receiving; and

storing the first text signal in a memory unit responsive to the step of converting.

2. A method according the claim 1 further comprising the step of:

storing the first voice signal in the memory unit responsive to the step of receiving,

wherein the step of converting the first voice signal to the first text signal is responsive to the step of storing the first voice signal in the memory unit.

3. A method according the claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

editing the first text signal responsive to the step of storing the first text signal in the memory unit to produce an edited first text signal; and

storing the edited first text signal in the memory unit responsive to the step of editing.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

generating a copy of the first text signal stored in the memory unit responsive to the step of storing the first text signal in the memory unit to produce a copy of the first text signal; and

storing the copy of the first text signal in the memory unit,

wherein the step of editing is responsive to the step of storing the copy of the first text signal in the memory unit.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first voice signal received from the remote telephone further comprises one of:

a live voice signal generated by the remote party during the telephone call,

a stored voice signal generated by the remote party prior to establishment of the telephone call, and

either a real or synthesized voice signal generated by the remote party associated with a telephone network service provider during the telephone call.

6. A method according the claim 1 further comprising the step of:

sensing a storage prompt signal,

wherein the step of storing the first voice signal is responsive to the step of sensing.

7. A method according the claim 6 wherein the storage prompt signal is a command signal generated by the local party associated with the local telephone.

8. A method according the claim 6 wherein the storage prompt signal is a distinctive audio service prompt generated by a telephone network service provider associated with the remote party.

9. A method according the claim 8 wherein the distinctive audio service prompt is generated responsive to a request for directory assistance from the local party associated with the local telephone to the telephone network service provider associated with the remote party.

10. A method according the claim 1 further comprising the step of:

sensing a conversion prompt signal,

wherein the step of converting is responsive to the step of sensing the conversion prompt signal.

11. A method according the claim 1 wherein the text signal is stored in at least one of:

a telephone scratchpad memory location in the memory unit in the local telephone, and

a telephone directory memory location in the memory unit in the local telephone.

12. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of an identity of the remote party associated with the telephone call;

storing the indication of the identity of the remote party in the memory unit; and

correlating the indication of the identity of the remote party with at least one of the first voice signal stored in the memory unit and the first text signal stored in the memory unit.

13. A method according to claim 12,

wherein the step of establishing the telephone call further comprises the step of:

making the telephone call by the local telephone to the remote telephone; and

wherein the indication of the identity of the remote party associated with the telephone call further comprises at least one of;

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local telephone, and

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local party.

14. A method according to claim 12,

wherein the step of establishing the telephone call further comprises the step of:

receiving the telephone call by the local telephone from the remote telephone; and

wherein the indication of the identity of the remote party associated with the telephone call further comprises at least one of;

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by a telephone network service provider,

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local telephone, and

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local party.

15. A method according the claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one of the first voice signal stored in the memory unit and the first text signal stored in the memory unit.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of:

making a new telephone call by the local telephone to a third telephone responsive to at least one of the first voice signal stored in the memory unit and the first text signal stored in the memory unit.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of:

making a new telephone call by the local telephone to a third telephone; and

transmitting at least one of the first voice signal stored in the memory unit and the first text signal stored in the memory unit to the third telephone.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of:

electrically coupling the local telephone to a personal computer; and

transmitting at least one of the first voice signal stored in the memory unit and the first text signal stored in the memory unit to the personal computer.

19. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second voice signal from the local telephone during the telephone call responsive to the step of establishing;

converting the second voice signal into a second text signal responsive to the step of receiving the second voice signal;

storing the second text signal in the memory unit responsive to the step of converting the second voice signal into the second text signal; and

distinguishing between the first text signal stored in the memory unit and the second text signal stored in the memory unit.

20. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of:

storing the second voice signal in the memory unit responsive to the step receiving of the second voice signal,

wherein the step of converting the second voice signal to the second text signal is responsive to the step of storing the second voice signal in the memory unit.

21. A method for operating a local telephone comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call between the local telephone associated with a local party and a remote telephone associated with a remote party,

receiving a first voice signal from the remote telephone during the telephone call responsive to the step of establishing;

sensing a storage prompt signal,

storing the first voice signal in a first memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of sensing the storage prompt signal;

sensing a conversion prompt signal,

converting the first voice signal to a first text signal responsive to the step of sensing the conversion prompt signal,

storing the first text signal in a second memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of converting;

editing the first text signal responsive to the step of storing the first text signal to produce an edited first text signal;

storing the edited first text signal in the second memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of editing; and

providing at least one of the first text signal and the edited first text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

generating a copy of the first text signal stored in the second memory unit responsive to the step of storing the first text signal in the second memory unit to produce a copy of the first text signal; and

storing the copy of the first text signal in the second memory unit,

wherein the step of editing is responsive to the step of storing the copy of the first text signal in the second memory unit.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the first voice signal received from the remote telephone further comprises one of:

a live voice signal generated by the remote party during the telephone call,

a stored voice signal generated by the remote party prior to establishment of the telephone call, and

either a real or synthesized voice signal generated by the remote party associated with a telephone network service provider during the telephone call.

24. A method according the claim 21 wherein the storage prompt signal is at least one of:

a command signal generated by the local party associated with the local telephone, and

a distinctive audio service prompt generated by a telephone network service provider associated with the remote party.

25. A method according the claim 24 wherein the distinctive audio service prompt is generated responsive to a request for directory assistance from the local party associated with the local telephone to the telephone network service provider associated with the remote party.

26. A method according the claim 21 wherein the text signal is stored in at least one of:

a telephone scratchpad memory location in the second memory unit in the local telephone, and

a telephone directory memory location in the second memory unit in the local telephone.

27. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of an identity of the remote party associated with the telephone call;

storing the indication of the identity of the remote party in at least one of the first memory unit and the second memory unit; and

correlating the indication of the identity of the remote party with at least one of the first voice signal stored in the first memory unit in the local telephone and the first text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone.

28. A method according to claim 27,

wherein the step of establishing the telephone call further comprises the step of:

making the telephone call by the local telephone to the remote telephone, and

wherein the indication of the identity of the remote party associated with the telephone call further comprises at least one of;

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local telephone, and

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local party.

29. A method according to claim 27,

wherein the step of establishing the telephone call further comprises the step of:

receiving the telephone call by the local telephone from the remote telephone; and

wherein the indication of the identity of the remote party associated with the telephone call further comprises at least one of;

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by a telephone network service provider,

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local telephone, and

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the remote party generated by the local party.

30. A method according to claim 21 wherein the step of providing further comprises one of:

the step of making a new telephone call by the local telephone to a third telephone responsive to at least one of the first voice signal stored in the first memory unit in the local telephone and the first text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone;

the steps of;

making a new telephone call by the local telephone to a third telephone; and

transmitting at least one of the first voice signal stored in the first memory unit in the local telephone and the first text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone to the third telephone; and

the steps of;

electrically coupling the local telephone to a personal computer; and

transmitting at least one of the first voice signal stored in the first memory unit in the local telephone and the first text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone to the personal computer.

31. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second voice signal from the local telephone during the telephone call responsive to the step of establishing;

converting the second voice signal into a second text signal responsive to the step of receiving the second voice signal;

storing the second text signal in the second memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of converting the second voice signal into the second text signal; and

distinguishing between the first text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone and the second text signal stored in the second memory unit in the local telephone.

32. A method according to claim 31 further comprising the step of:

storing the second voice signal in the first memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step receiving of the second voice signal,

wherein the step of converting the second voice signal to the second text signal is responsive to the step of storing the second voice signal in the first memory unit in the local telephone.

33. A method of operating a local telephone comprising the steps of:

making a telephone call from the local telephone associated with a local party to a remote telephone associated with a telephone network service provider to permit the local party to make a request for directory assistance information from the telephone network service provider;

receiving a distinctive audio service prompt signal from the remote telephone during the telephone call responsive to the step of establishing the telephone call and receiving the local party'"'"'s request;

receiving a first voice signal from the remote telephone during the telephone call responsive to the step of receiving the distinctive audio service prompt signal, wherein the first voice signal comprises either a real or synthesized voice signal representing the directory assistance information provided by the telephone network service provider;

converting the first voice signal to a first text signal responsive to the step of receiving the first voice signal;

storing the first text signal in a memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of converting, wherein the text signal is stored in at least one of a telephone scratchpad memory location in the memory unit in the local telephone and a telephone directory memory location in the memory unit in the local telephone; and

providing the first text signal stored in the memory unit in the local telephone.

34. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

storing the first voice signal in the memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of receiving the distinctive audio service prompt signal and the step of receiving the first voice signal,

wherein the step of converting converts the first voice signal to a first text signal responsive to the step of storing the first voice signal.

35. A method according to claim 34 further comprising the steps of:

editing the first text signal responsive to the step of storing the first text signal in the memory unit in the local telephone to produce an edited first text signal;

storing the edited first text signal in the memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of editing,

wherein the step of providing provides the edited first text signal stored in the memory unit in the local telephone.

36. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

editing the first text signal responsive to the step of storing the first text signal in the memory unit in the local telephone to produce an edited first text signal;

storing the edited first text signal in the memory unit in the local telephone responsive to the step of editing,

wherein the step of providing provides the edited first text signal stored in the memory unit in the local telephone.

37. An apparatus for converting a voice signal to a text signal comprising:

a communications interface circuit adapted to establish a telephone call between a local telephone associated with a local party and a remote telephone associated with a remote party and to receive a first voice signal from the remote telephone during the telephone call;

a voice signal to text signal processor electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit and adapted to convert the first voice signal to a first text signal; and

a second memory unit electronically coupled to the voice signal to text signal processor and adapted to store the first text signal.

38. An apparatus according the claim 37 further comprising:

a first memory unit electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit and the voice signal to text signal processor and adapted to store first voice signal.

39. An apparatus according the claim 37 further comprising:

a controller electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit, the voice signal to text signal processor, and the second memory unit and adapted to generate at least one of a storage prompt signal and a conversion prompt signal.

40. An apparatus according the claim 37 further comprising:

a caller identification unit electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit and a controller.

41. An apparatus for converting a voice signal to a text signal comprising:

a communications interface circuit adapted to establish a telephone call between a local telephone associated with a local party and a remote telephone associated with a remote party and to receive a first voice signal from the remote telephone during the telephone call;

a first memory unit electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit and adapted to store first voice signal responsive to a storage prompt signal;

a voice signal to text signal processor electronically coupled to the first memory unit and adapted to convert the first voice signal to a first text signal responsive to a conversion prompt signal;

a second memory unit electronically coupled to the voice signal to text signal processor and adapted to store the first text signal; and

a controller electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit, the first memory unit, the voice signal to text signal processor, and the second memory unit and adapted to generate at least one of the storage prompt signal and the conversion prompt signal.

42. An apparatus according the claim 41 further comprising:

a caller identification unit electronically coupled to the communications interface circuit.