Electronic document answering machine
First Claim
1. An Electronic Document Answering Machine comprising:
- a CPU and memory connected by a communication bus;
a modem connected to the bus for communicating on a telephone line;
an announcement system for communicating stored documents to a user;
an alert apparatus for signaling a user that new documents are waiting to be reviewed; and
an input device for a user to signal the system to communicate the new documents to the user;
wherein the CPU, executing stored control code, periodically connects to remote sources over the modem, downloads and stores digital documents in portions of the memory, and activates the alert apparatus as new documents are stored, and wherein the CPU in response to input from a user via the input device, communicates stored documents one-at-a-time to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Electronic Document Answering Machine is adapted to connect to remote information sources and to download digital documents including e-mail and WEB pages, and to store the documents for later review by a user. The Answering machine has an alert device for alerting a user that new documents are available for review, and an initializing device for a user to cause documents to be communicated for review one-at-a-time. In a preferred embodiment documents are communicated over a speaker via voice synthesis. In an alternative preferred embodiment a small display is provided wherein documents may be displayed in alphanumeric characters. The answering machine can be implemented as a stand-alone device or can be connected via a serial port to a host PC for transferring documents to the PC for processing and review. In other embodiments the Answering Machine is implemented as a system in a PC, with alert and selective input added as an interface. The interface can be in a keyboard, and can be provided by existing keys and LEDs on a keyboard. An Answering Machine is also provided as a set-top-box for a TV, downloading digital documents from the Internet and providing the documents with user prompting to a TV via an audio/video output. prompting may be by infra-red input from a remote controller.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An Electronic Document Answering Machine comprising:
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a CPU and memory connected by a communication bus;
a modem connected to the bus for communicating on a telephone line;
an announcement system for communicating stored documents to a user;
an alert apparatus for signaling a user that new documents are waiting to be reviewed; and
an input device for a user to signal the system to communicate the new documents to the user;
wherein the CPU, executing stored control code, periodically connects to remote sources over the modem, downloads and stores digital documents in portions of the memory, and activates the alert apparatus as new documents are stored, and wherein the CPU in response to input from a user via the input device, communicates stored documents one-at-a-time to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An Electronic Document Answering System in a personal computer (PC), comprising:
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a retriever adapted for periodically retrieving and storing digital documents over a telephone line;
an alert apparatus for signaling a user that one or more new documents have been retrieved and stored and are ready for review; and
an initializing input for a user to signal the system to communicate the stored documents one-at-a-time for review by the user;
wherein the system is adapted to operate using CPU and memory elements of the PC with special operating code provided for the system, and to operate during periods of time the PC is in reduced-power power as well as when the PC is in full operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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15. An Electronic Document Answering Machine for use with a TV set, comprising:
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a CPU and memory connected by a communication bus;
a modem connected to the bus for communicating on a telephone line;
an alert apparatus for signaling a user that new documents are waiting to be reviewed;
an audio/video output port connected to the bus; and
an infra-red port for receiving infra-red signals from a remote controller;
wherein the CPU, executing stored control code, periodically connects to remote sources over the modem, downloads and stores digital documents in portions of the memory, and activates the alert apparatus as new documents are stored, and wherein the CPU in response to input from a user via the infra-red port, communicates stored documents one-at-a-time to a TV set via the audio/video output port.
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Specification