Systems and methods for recording and delivering personalized audio messages
First Claim
1. A system for recording and delivering a personalized audio message of a customer provided by the customer to a central facility via a communication channel and delivered from the central facility via a communication line, comprising:
- a) a central facility computer system located at a first location and having a voice digitizer, a processor means, and an outgoing communication line interface means, wherein said processor means is coupled to said voice digitizer, and to said outgoing communication line interface means, wherein an audio message provided by the customer is digitized by said processor means, and said processor means causes data representing said audio message to be provided to said outgoing communication line interface means;
b) a plurality of playback device programmer systems located at a plurality of second locations and each having an incoming communication line interface means, a second processor means coupled to said incoming communication line interface means, and a playback device programmer means coupled to said second processor means, said incoming communication line interface means for receiving said data representing said audio information from said outgoing communication line interface means and for providing said audio information as digital information to said second processor which in turn provides said digital information to said playback device programmer means; and
c) a portable playback device having a power switch, a power supply coupled to said power switch, a message memory, and a speaker means coupled to said power supply and to said message memory, wherein said message memory means is programmed by said playback device programmer means to store information representing said audio information, and upon said power switch being activated, said portable playback device is powered by said power supply such that said information stored by said message memory means is provided to said speaker means and causes said speaker means to provide a substantial equivalent of said personalized audio message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for recording and delivering personalized audio messages are provided. The system includes a central facility computer system (CF), a store front programming system (SFS), and a portable playback device (PPD). When a customer desires to send a personalized message to another person, the customer communicates via a telecommunications channel with the CF. Under control of a CF processor, a outgoing message module of the CF provides instructions to the customer, who enters required information and provides the personalized audio message. The personalized audio message is digitized by a CF voice digitizer and transmitted from the CF via a data interface to the SFS. The SFS receives the digitized personalized audio message data from the CF and uses its playback device programmer to program data representing the audio message onto the PPD. The PPD is an audio chip having a nonvolatile memory, an external switch, a battery and a speaker. When the switch is pressed, the data representing the audio message stored in the memory is sent to the speaker (via a D/A converter where the data is digital) where a facsimile of the original audio message is heard.
118 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for recording and delivering a personalized audio message of a customer provided by the customer to a central facility via a communication channel and delivered from the central facility via a communication line, comprising:
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a) a central facility computer system located at a first location and having a voice digitizer, a processor means, and an outgoing communication line interface means, wherein said processor means is coupled to said voice digitizer, and to said outgoing communication line interface means, wherein an audio message provided by the customer is digitized by said processor means, and said processor means causes data representing said audio message to be provided to said outgoing communication line interface means; b) a plurality of playback device programmer systems located at a plurality of second locations and each having an incoming communication line interface means, a second processor means coupled to said incoming communication line interface means, and a playback device programmer means coupled to said second processor means, said incoming communication line interface means for receiving said data representing said audio information from said outgoing communication line interface means and for providing said audio information as digital information to said second processor which in turn provides said digital information to said playback device programmer means; and c) a portable playback device having a power switch, a power supply coupled to said power switch, a message memory, and a speaker means coupled to said power supply and to said message memory, wherein said message memory means is programmed by said playback device programmer means to store information representing said audio information, and upon said power switch being activated, said portable playback device is powered by said power supply such that said information stored by said message memory means is provided to said speaker means and causes said speaker means to provide a substantial equivalent of said personalized audio message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for recording and delivering a personalized audio message of a customer provided by the customer to a central facility via a communications channel and delivered from the central facility via a communication line, comprising:
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a) a central facility computer system located at a first location and having an outgoing message module, a communications channel interface means, a voice digitizer, a processor means, a memory means, and an outgoing communication line interface means, wherein said processor means is coupled to said outgoing message module, to said communications channel interface means, to said voice digitizer, to said memory means, and to said outgoing communication line interface means, and said processor means controls said outgoing message module, wherein said communications channel interface means interfaces with the communications channel such that non-audio message information provided by the customer is provided via the communications channel interface means to said processor means, and audio message information provided by the customer is provided via the incoming voice digitizer to said processor means, and said processor means causes said outgoing message module to provide messages to the customer via the communications channel based on at least the non-audio message information provided by the customer, and said processor means further causes data representing said audio information to be provided to said outgoing communication line interface means; b) a playback device programmer system located at a second location and having an incoming communication line interface means, a second processor means coupled to said incoming communication line interface means, and a playback device programmer means coupled to said second processor means, said incoming communication line interface means for receiving said data representing said audio information from said outgoing communication line interface means and for providing said audio information as message information to said second processor which in turn provides said message information to said playback device programmer means; and c) a portable playback device having a power switch, a power supply coupled to said power switch, a message memory means, and a speaker means coupled to said power supply and to said message memory means, wherein said message memory means is programmed by said playback device programmer means to store said message information representing said audio information, and upon said power switch being activated, said portable playback device is powered by said power supply such that said message information stored by said message memory means is provided to said speaker means and causes said speaker means to provide a substantial equivalent of said personalized audio message. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for recording and delivering a personalized audio message of a customer provided by the customer to a central facility via a communications channel and delivered from the central facility via a communication line, comprising:
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a) receiving the personalized audio message at the central facility via the communication channel; b) digitizing the received personalized audio message, and storing the resulting digital information; c) sending the stored digital information from the central facility to a store front facility in coded format substantially resistant to noise via the communication line; d) receiving said digital information at said store front facility via the communication line; e) decoding said digital information at said store front facility; f) programming a memory of a portable playback device with said resulting digital information or information related thereto; and g) causing said portable playback device with said memory to be delivered to an intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification