Audio recording system and method of use

• US 20040066915A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voicecards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Voicecards Incorporated
• Inventors: Morrison, R. Al, Turner, Gerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form

Abstract

An audio message recording and playback system including a recorder-imprinter device, a self-contained voice module for playback of an audio message and a number of input devices for initially recording the audio message to the recorder-imprinter device.

Claims

1. A recording and playback apparatus comprising:

a recorder-imprinter device including a housing formed with a port of a predetermined configuration and an electrical receptacle in said port;

a storage device in said housing for receiving and storing an audio message, and a microprocessor in circuit with said electrical receptacle and said storage device and operative in response to said stored voice message to generate an analog signal;

a voice module including a casing configured to be complementally received in said port and including a contact for removably engaging said electrical receptacle to receive said analog signal, said module further including a chip having a solid state memory for receipt and storage of said analog signal, a power supply in circuit with said chip, a switch interposed between said power supply and said chip, a timer responsive to said analog signal to open said switch, a manual actuator interposed between said casing and said switch for closing said switch, a speaker connected with said chip and operable in response to said analog signal to generate an audio signal to propagate to a listener.

2. The recording and playback device of claim 1 that further includes:

a greeting card configured with a lightweight core and formed with a pocket for removable receipt of said module.

3. The recording and playback device of claim 2, wherein:

said casing is further configured with a diagonally cut corner; and

said pocket is formed with a diagonal wall configured to complementally engage said diagonally cut comer to orient said module in said greeting card.

4. The recording and playback device of claim 2, wherein:

said card is further configured with a peel-off adhesive backing for attachment to another item.

5. The recording and playback device of claim 1 that further includes:

a gift configured with a pocket for removable receipt of said module.

6. The recording and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

said casing is further configured with a pattern of holes adjacent said speaker to facilitate transmission of said audio signal from said speaker to said listener.

7. The recording and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

said port is formed in one wall with a first indexer;

said casing is configured with a second indexer configured and oriented to be, when said casing is placed in said port in the desired orientation, complementally engaged with said first indexer.

8. The recording and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes a telephone interface circuit in circuit with said microprocessor; and

a telephone jack for connecting with a telephone network.

9. The recording and playback device of claim 8, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes an automatic gain control device interposed between said telephone jack and said microprocessor.

10. The recording and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

said microprocessor includes instructions for operational modes thereof; and

said recorder-imprinter further includes a keypad on said housing including selection buttons and a display device coupled with said microprocessor and operative upon activation of said buttons to actuate said microprocessor in accordance with said instructions displayed on said display device.

11. The recording and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes a serial interface comprising connecting means for linking said microprocessor to a personal computer to transmit data therebetween.

12. The recording and playback device of claim 11, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a COM port.

13. The recording and playback device of claim 11, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a USB port.

14. The recording and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

a digital-to-analog converter is in circuit between said microprocessor and said electrical receptacle to convert said audio message to analog format for storage in said chip of said voice module.

15. A method of recording a personal message to present to a recipient including:

selecting a product with a pocket for receipt of a voice module of a predetermined configuration;

selecting a voice module of said predetermined configuration and of the type including an electrical contact, a solid state memory for receipt and storage of an analog signal applied to said contact, a power supply, a switch interposed between said power supply and said memory, and a speaker connected with said solid state memory and operable in response to said analog signal to generate an audio signal to propagate to said recipient;

selecting a recorder-imprinter device including a housing with a port configured to complementally receive said voice module and including an electrical receptacle engageable with said electrical contact, a storage device for receiving and storing said personal message, a microprocessor in circuit with said receptacle and said storage device and operative in response to a stored said personal message to generate an analog signal;

placing said module in said port to engage said contact with said receptacle;

downloading said voice message to said storage device of said recorder-imprinter;

inserting said voice module in said port to engage said contact with said receptacle to receive said analog signal and record it on said solid state memory; and

removing said voice module from said port and inserting it in said pocket and delivering said product to said recipient.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloading step is performed at a retail outlet and further comprises:

placing a telephone call from a remote location over a conventional telephone network to said outlet as an incoming call;

receiving said telephone call;

connecting said telephone call to said recorder-imprinter device; and

prompting the recording of said audio message.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloading step further comprises:

configuring a personal computer with an audio message recording software program;

selecting said recorder-imprinter to further include a computer interface;

linking said personal computer to said recorder-imprinter through said computer interface;

interacting said software program so as to store said voice message in said personal computer; and

transmitting said voice message to said recorder-imprinter device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of interacting said software program further comprises:

placing a telephone call from a remote location over a conventional telephone network to a retail location; and

in response to said telephone call transferring said telephone call to said personal computer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the linking step further comprises:

selecting a computer network means to facilitate the transmission of electronic data between electronic devices; and

connecting said personal computer to said computer interface across said computer network means.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the connecting step further comprises:

selecting a recorder-imprinter further including a telephone interface device in circuit between a telephone jack and said microprocessor;

selecting a telephone network;

installing a telephone line connection between said telephone network and said telephone jack;

transferring said incoming call to said recorder-imprinter by placing said call on hold at said telephone network and configuring said recorder-imprinter to automatically seize said incoming call.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloading step further comprises:

locating a user and said recorder-imprinter in the same location;

selecting said recorder-imprinter to further include a handset in circuit with said microprocessor;

said user picking up said handset; and

said microprocessor prompting said user through said handset to record said voice message.

22. A method of recording and delivering a message for shipment to a recipient including:

receiving a telephone order from a caller;

recording the telephone caller'"'"'s identification and recording his or her personal message in a storage device;

converting said message to an analog signal;

selecting a voice module including a power supply, memory device, speaker and switch;

recording said analog signal on said memory device such that said switch may be subsequently operated by said recipient to close the circuit between said power supply and said speaker to transmit said analog signal to said speaker and generate an audio signal to propagate to said recipient.

23. A method of recording a personal message to present to a listener receiving a gift including:

selecting a gift with a pocket for receipt of a voice module of a predetermined configuration;

selecting a voice module of said predetermined configuration and of the type including an electrical contact, a solid state memory for receipt and storage of an analog signal applied to said contact, a power supply, a switch interposed between said power supply and said memory, and a speaker connected with said solid state memory and operable in response to said analog signal to generate an audio signal to propagate to said listener;

selecting a recorder-imprinter device including a housing with a port configured to complementally receive said voice module and including an electrical receptacle engageable with said electrical contact, a solid state analog storage device for receiving and storing an analog signal, a microprocessor in circuit with said receptacle and said storage device and operative in response to a stored voice message to generate an analog signal;

placing said module in said port to engage said contact with said receptacle;

receiving a telephone call from a customer and connecting said telephone call with said recorder-imprinter to record said customer'"'"'s personal message;

inserting said voice module in said port to engage said contact with said receptacle to receive said analog signal and record it on said solid state memory; and

removing said voice module from said port and inserting it in said pocket and delivering said gift to said listener.