Voice recordal methods and systems

• US 20040132432A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timeslice Communications Limited
• Original Assignee: Timeslice Communications Limited
• Inventors: Last, Benjamin James, Moores, Toby
• Application Number:
  US10/677,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132432A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/258 Service state indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/303 Marking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method of recording a voice communication between at least two individuals where the two individuals use respective telephone communication devices such as mobile phones to communicate is described. The method comprises: recording at least part of the conversation between the individuals; at least one of the individuals associating one or more tags with selected respective points or portions within the recording, each tag being machine interpretable and indicating a meaning of the respective point or portion within the recording; and storing the recording and tags in a location accessible by at least one of the two individuals. The tags are selected from a plurality of different types of tags each type having a different meaning.

Claims

1. A method of recording and replaying at least part of a voice communication between two individuals, at least one individual using a portable mobile telecommunications device for the voice communication, the method comprising:

recording at least part of the voice communication;

associating one or more tags with selected respective points or portions within the recording, each tag being machine interpretable and indicating a meaning of the respective point or portion within the recording;

storing the recording and tags in a location accessible by the at least one individual;

accessing the stored recording and tags;

navigating through the recording to a point or portion of interest, as indicated by one or more of the tags; and

replaying the point or portion of interest of the recording,

wherein the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out under the control of the at least one individual by inputting data into their portable mobile telecommunications device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the associating step further comprises selecting the one or more tags to be associated with selected points or portions within the recording from a predetermined plurality of different types of tags, each tag having a different meaning.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the storing step comprises storing the recording and tags in a location accessible to both of the two individuals.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the storing step comprises storing the recording and tags in a location accessible to individuals other than the two individuals.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises generating voice signals automatically within the voice communication using a machine as one of the individuals.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the associating step comprises associating at least one of the tags while the voice communication is still proceeding.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out by using a key pad of the respective telecommunications device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the associating step comprises selecting a tag by pressing a key on the key pad, the possible tags being associated with respective keys of the key pad.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the navigating step comprises navigating to tags at different positions within the recording by asserting the keys associated with the respective tags.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out by using voice recognition software to process oral commands.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the associating step comprises associating one or more DTMF tones with an audio track recording.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigating step comprises locating automatically the points or portions of the recording using the tags and the method further comprises processing the recording based on the meaning of the tags.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the processing step comprises selecting at least one segment of the recording based on the tags and generating an edited version of the recording including or excluding the at least one segment.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the processing step comprises determining, for differing sections of the recording, differing values of an interest parameter indicating the interest of those sections of the recording using the tags.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigating step further comprises displaying a visual representation of the recording including symbols indicating locations of the tags within the recording.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a visual representation which includes a timeline.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a visual representation of the recording which includes icons representing events or articles associated with points or portions of the recording.

32. A method according to claim 2, wherein the storing step comprises storing the recording and tags in a location accessible to both of the two individuals.

33. A method according to claim 2, wherein the storing step comprises storing the recording and tags in a location accessible to individuals other than the two individuals.

34. A method according to claim 2, wherein the associating step comprises associating at least one of the tags while the voice communication is still proceeding.

35. A method according to claim 2, wherein the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out by using a key pad of the respective telecommunications device and the associating step comprises selecting a tag by pressing a key on the key pad, the possible tags being associated with respective keys of the key pad.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the navigating step comprises navigating to tags at different positions within the recording by asserting the keys associated with the respective tags.

37. A method according to claim 2, wherein the navigating step comprises locating automatically the points or portions of the recording using the tags and the method further comprises processing the recording based on the meaning of the tags.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the processing step comprises determining, for differing sections of the recording, differing values of an interest parameter indicating the interest of those sections of the recording using the tags.

39. A method according to claim 2, wherein the navigating step further comprises displaying a visual representation of the recording including symbols indicating locations of the tags within the recording.

7. A method of communicating a voice message from a first individual to a second individual, each individual using a telecommunications device to communicate the voice message and the telecommunications device of at least the second individual comprising a portable mobile telecommunications device, the method comprising:

transmitting the voice message for the second individual via a telecommunications network to a storage location accessible by at least the second individual and storing the voice message as a recording;

associating one or more tags, each selected from a plurality of predetermined different tag types, with selected respective points or portions within the recording, each tag being machine interpretable and indicating a meaning of the respective point or portion within the recording;

storing the tags in the storage location together with the recording;

accessing the recording and tags;

navigating through the recording to a point or portion of interest, as indicated by one or more of the tags; and

replaying the point or portion of interest of the recording,

wherein the associating step is carried out under the control of either the first or the second individual using their respective telecommunications device; and

the accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out under the control of the second individual by inputting data into their mobile telecommunications device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting a pre-recorded voice message for the second individual.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises generating voice signals automatically within the voice message using a machine as the first individual.

15. A method according to claim 7, wherein the associating step comprises associating one or more tags with the voice message during the transmitting step.

40. A method according to claim 7, wherein the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out by using a key pad of the respective telecommunications device.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the associating step comprises selecting a tag by pressing a key on the key pad, the possible tags being associated with respective keys of the key pad.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the navigating step comprises navigating to tags at different positions within the recording by asserting the keys associated with the respective tags.

43. A method according to claim 7, wherein the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out by using voice recognition software to process oral commands.

44. A method according to claim 7, wherein the associating step comprises associating one or more DTMF tones with an audio track recording.

45. A method according to claim 7, wherein the navigating step comprises locating automatically the points or portions of the recording using the tags and the method further comprises processing the recording based on the meaning of the tags.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the processing step comprises selecting at least one segment of the recording based on the tags and generating an edited version of the recording including or excluding the at least one segment.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the processing step comprises determining, for differing sections of the recording, differing values of an interest parameter indicating the interest of those sections of the recording using the tags.

48. A method according to claim 7, wherein the navigating step further comprises displaying a visual representation of the recording including symbols indicating locations of the tags within the recording.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a visual representation which includes a timeline.

50. A method according to claim 48, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a visual representation of the recording which includes icons representing events or articles associated with points or portions of the recording.

22. A communication system for recording and replaying at least part of a voice communication between two individuals, the system comprising:

at least two telecommunications devices, one of which comprises a portable mobile telecommunications device;

a communication network for supporting communications between the telecommunications devices;

a recording device accessible using the telecommunications devices, the recording device being arranged to record at least part of the voice communication between the telecommunications devices;

tagging means for associating one or more machine-readable navigation tags with selected respective point or portions within the voice communication recorded by the recording device;

navigation means for navigating through the recording to a point or portion of interest, as indicated by one or more of the tags; and

playback means for replaying the point or portion of interest of the recording,

wherein the tagging means, navigation means and playback means are all arranged to be controllable by the portable mobile telecommunications device.

23. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein the recording device is associated with an operator of the communication network and is located remotely from the telecommunications devices.

24. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein the recording device is associated with the mobile portable telecommunications device and is proximate or connected to the mobile portable telecommunications device.

25. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein the telecommunications devices comprise video telephone devices.

26. A user-operated portable mobile telecommunications device for recording, storing and playing back communications, the device comprising:

a data store;

a data recorder for recording voice communications into the data store,

input means for inputting control signals into the device;

marking means for associating one or more machine-readable markers specified by the control signals, with selected respective points or portions within the voice communication recorded by the data recorder;

navigation means for navigating through the voice communication recorded by the data recorder to a point or portion of interest as indicated by one of the machine-readable markers; and

playback means for replaying the point or portion of interest.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein the navigation system is controlled by control signals specified by the input means under user control.

28. A device according to claim 26, further comprising editing means for editing points or portions of interest as indicated by the machine readable markers.

29. A device according to claim 26, wherein each marker is a selected marker from a plurality of different types of marker, each type having a different meaning.

30. A user-operated portable mobile telecommunications device for playing back and editing a remotely stored voice communication recording, the device comprising:

input means for inputting control signals into the device;

marking means for associating one or more machine-readable markers, specified by the control signals, with selected respective points or portions within the voice communication recorded by the data recorder;

navigation means for navigating through the voice communication recording using one or more machine-readable markers, as specified by the control signals, associated with selected respective points or portions within the voice communication recording;

playback means for replaying a point or portion of interest; and

editing means for editing points or portions of interest within the recording as indicated by the machine-readable markers.

31. A user-controlled recording device for storing, playing back and editing voice communications, the device comprising:

a data store;

a data recorder for recording voice communications in the data store,

means for receiving control signals from remotely located users for storing, playing back and editing voice communications; and

means for associating one or more machine-readable markers specified by the control signals, with selected respective points or portions within the message recorded by the recording device.

51. A method of recording and replaying at least part of a voice communication between two individuals, at least one individual using a portable mobile telecommunications device for the voice communication, the method comprising:

recording at least part of the voice communication;

associating one or more tags with selected respective points or portions within the recording, each tag being machine interpretable and indicating a meaning of the respective point or portion within the recording;

storing the recording and tags in a location accessible by the at least one individual;

accessing the stored recording and tags;

navigating through the recording to a point or portion of interest, as indicated by one or more of the tags; and

replaying the point or portion of interest of the recording,

wherein;

the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out under the control of the at least one individual by inputting data into their portable mobile telecommunications device by using a key pad of the telecommunications device; and

the associating step further comprises selecting the one or more tags to be associated with selected points or portions within the recording from a predetermined plurality of different types of tags by pressing a key on the key pad, each tag having a different meaning and being associated with a respective key of the key pad, and associating at least one of the tags while the voice communication is still proceeding.

52. A method of recording and replaying at least part of a voice communication between two individuals, at least one individual using a portable mobile telecommunications device for the voice communication, the method comprising:

recording at least part of the voice communication;

associating one or more tags with selected respective points or portions within the recording, each tag being machine interpretable and indicating a meaning of the respective point or portion within the recording;

storing the recording and tags in a location accessible by the at least one individual;

accessing the stored recording and tags;

navigating through the recording to a point or portion of interest, as indicated by one or more of the tags; and

replaying the point or portion of interest of the recording,

wherein;

the associating, accessing, navigating and replaying steps are carried out under the control of the at least one individual by inputting data into their portable mobile telecommunications device by using a key pad of the telecommunications device;

the navigating step comprises locating automatically the points or portions of the recording using the tags and the method further comprises processing the recording based on the meaning of the tags; and

the processing step comprises selecting at least one segment of the recording based on the tags and generating an edited version of the recording including or excluding the at least one segment.

53. A user-operated portable mobile telecommunications device for recording, storing and playing back communications, the device comprising:

a data store;

a data recorder for recording voice communications into the data store,

a key pad for inputting control signals into the device;

an instruction interpretation module for associating one or more machine-readable markers specified by the control signals, with selected respective points or portions within the voice communication recorded by the data recorder;

a control module for navigating through the voice communication recorded by the data recorder to a point or portion of interest as indicated by one of the machine-readable markers; and

a database recording and retrieval module for replaying the point or portion of interest.

54. A user-operated portable mobile telecommunications device for playing back and editing a remotely stored voice communication recording, the device comprising:

a key pad for inputting control signals into the device;

an instruction interpretation module for associating one or more machine-readable markers, specified by the control signals, with selected respective points or portions within the voice communication recorded by the data recorder;

a control module for navigating through the voice communication recording using one or more machine-readable markers, as specified by the control signals, associated with selected respective points or portions within the voice communication recording;

a database recording and retrieval module for replaying a point or portion of interest; and

an editor for editing points or portions of interest within the recording as indicated by the machine-readable markers.

55. A user-controlled recording device for storing, playing back and editing voice communications, the device comprising:

a data store;

a data recorder for recording voice communications in the data store,

a communications module for receiving control signals from remotely located users for storing, playing back and editing voice communications; and

an instruction interpretation module for associating one or more machine-readable markers specified by the control signals, with selected respective points or portions within the message recorded by the recording device.