Voice/text storage and retrieval system
First Claim
1. A voice/text storage and retrieval apparatus comprising:
- (a) digital mass storage means for storage and retrieval of digital data and of digitized voice signal data;
(b) first processor means for controlling access to said digital mass storage means;
(c) host processor means for monitoring, coordination and supervision of the operation of said apparatus;
(d) communications processor means for reception and retransmission of digital data;
(e) interface means for receiving and transmitting both digital data signals and analog voice signals, said interface means further comprising detection means for the detection of digital data signals and switch means responsive to said detection means for separating said digital data signals from said analog voice signals, said switch means operatively connecting said communications processor means to said interface means for transmission and reception of said digital signals;
(f) conversion means operatively connected to said interface switch means for the reception and transmission of said analog voice signals, said received analog voice signals being digitized by said conversion means and said transmitted analog voice signal being generated by said conversion means in response to a digital input;
(g) buffer means for buffering the flow of data to and from said conversion means;
(h) voice transfer control means for controlling the transfer of data between said buffer means and said conversion means for signaling said host processor when a block of said digitized voice signal data must be transferred between said bufer and said mass storage means and in response to signals from said first processor means controlling such block transfers;
(i) a first bus operatively interconnecting said first processor means, said communications processor means and said host processor means, whereby digital data received by, or to be transmitted by said communications processor may be transferred between said mass storage means and said communications processor means under control of said first processor means and in response to commands from said host processor means;
(j) a second bus operatively interconnecting said first processor means, said voice transfer control means, said buffer means and said conversion means, whereby said digitized voice data may be transferred between said buffer means and said conversion means and blocks of said digitized voice data may be transferred between said mass storage means and said buffer means under control of said first processor means and said voice transfer control means; and
(k) said first bus being further operatively connected to said voice transfer control means whereby said host processor means may initiate or halt digitized voice data signal transfers to and from said conversion means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The Voice/Text Storage System provides for the storage of digital data and digitized voice signals and is particularly suited for applications such as voice mail and voice annotation of text. The system includes a first bus operatively connecting a storage/network processor which controls access to a mass storage device, a host processor which provides overall control for the system and a communications processor. All processors have private memories connected to the processor CPU'"'"'s directly so that the processors may continue to operate when the first bus is busy. The system also includes a second bus operatively connecting the storage/network processor, a voice transfer control unit, a buffer and voice transfer unit for receiving, digitizing and storing voice signals received over a plurality of telephone lines. The voice transfer unit also includes a switch and data carrier detection apparatus for selectively connecting digital data signals transmitted over the telephone lines to the communications processor.
151 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A voice/text storage and retrieval apparatus comprising:
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(a) digital mass storage means for storage and retrieval of digital data and of digitized voice signal data; (b) first processor means for controlling access to said digital mass storage means; (c) host processor means for monitoring, coordination and supervision of the operation of said apparatus; (d) communications processor means for reception and retransmission of digital data; (e) interface means for receiving and transmitting both digital data signals and analog voice signals, said interface means further comprising detection means for the detection of digital data signals and switch means responsive to said detection means for separating said digital data signals from said analog voice signals, said switch means operatively connecting said communications processor means to said interface means for transmission and reception of said digital signals; (f) conversion means operatively connected to said interface switch means for the reception and transmission of said analog voice signals, said received analog voice signals being digitized by said conversion means and said transmitted analog voice signal being generated by said conversion means in response to a digital input; (g) buffer means for buffering the flow of data to and from said conversion means; (h) voice transfer control means for controlling the transfer of data between said buffer means and said conversion means for signaling said host processor when a block of said digitized voice signal data must be transferred between said bufer and said mass storage means and in response to signals from said first processor means controlling such block transfers; (i) a first bus operatively interconnecting said first processor means, said communications processor means and said host processor means, whereby digital data received by, or to be transmitted by said communications processor may be transferred between said mass storage means and said communications processor means under control of said first processor means and in response to commands from said host processor means; (j) a second bus operatively interconnecting said first processor means, said voice transfer control means, said buffer means and said conversion means, whereby said digitized voice data may be transferred between said buffer means and said conversion means and blocks of said digitized voice data may be transferred between said mass storage means and said buffer means under control of said first processor means and said voice transfer control means; and (k) said first bus being further operatively connected to said voice transfer control means whereby said host processor means may initiate or halt digitized voice data signal transfers to and from said conversion means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A voice/text storage and retrieval apparatus comprising:
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(a) digital mass storage means for storage and retrieval of digital data and digitized voice signal data; (b) communication and control means for the generation and transfer of digital command and data signal, said communications and control means further comprising; (b.1) a first bus; (b.2) host processor means operatively connected to said first bus for the generation of digital command signals for the overall control of said apparatus; and (b.3) communication processor means operatively connected to said bus and to a plurality of serial data lines for controlling the transmission of digital data between said first bus and said serial data lines. (c) voice transfer means for converting voice signals between digital and analog form and for transferring said voice signals to and from said mass storage means, said voice transfer control means including a second bus for the transfer of digitized voice signals; (d) interface means for interfacing a plurality of signal lines to said apparatus, said lines having the capability to carry both analog voice signals and serial digital data, said interface means including switch means for distinguishing between said analog voice signals and said serial data signals and for routing said analog voice signals between said signal lines and said voice transfer control means and for routing said serial data signals between said signal lines and said serial data lines; (e) storage/network processing means operatively connected to said first and second busses for controlling access to said mass storage means, said storage/network processor means further comprising; (e.1) a central processing unit having a private memory; (e.2) first direct memory access means operatively connecting said storage/network processing means to said first bus; (e.3) second direct memory access means operatively connecting said storage/network processing means to said second bus; (e.4) storage/network switch means, controlling by said central processing unit, for operatively connecting said first direct memory access means to said private memory, whereby said command data signals may be transmitted between said central processing unit and said host processing means, and for operatively connecting either said first or said second direct memory access means to said mass storage means, whereby either digital data or digitized voice may be routed to said mass storage means for storage or retrieval. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification