Method and apparatus for processing and downloading sound messages onto a permanent memory of a communication package

• US 5,719,920 A
• Filed: 11/29/1995
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Messenger
• Original Assignee: Messenger
• Inventors: Harman, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/564,501
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/71, 379/355, 379/91, 379/202, 379/100, 395/611, 395/612, 395/613, 395/762, 395/806
• US Class Current: 379/88.07
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 25/00 Audible advertising sound recording or reproducing per se G11B; public address systems H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0488 in boxes or containers comprising additional sound reproducing or activating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A communication package has, enclosed in a storage disc, a voice chip connected by power input bus terminals to a renewable, battery power system which provides easy battery accessibility. The storage disc preferably contains an acoustically resonant chamber and diffusion apparatus and preferably contains a removable barrier between the power system and the power input bus terminals that must be removed before the voice chip can be energized. A unitized interface system (UIS) is used to store a voice message in the communication package by recording the voice message, replaying the voice message, optionally re-recording at least a portion of the voice message until the replay is satisfactory and converting the voice message to a compressed, digital "sound file". Identifying information is encoded and converted into a compressed, digital "text file" and combined with the "sound file". The identifying information is separated from the combined files and is displayed or printed. Only the contents of the "sound file" are downloaded onto the voice chip of the communication package.

Claims

1. A unitized interface system (UIS) for processing and downloading sound messages onto a permanent memory of a communication package, the UIS comprising:

a telecommunication interface means for receiving a sound message;

means for converting the sound message into digital signals when received in other than digital form;

means for compressing the digital signals to provide compressed, digital signals;

means for recording the compressed, digital signals to provide recorded, compressed, digital signals, as a sound file;

means for combining a text file of encoded, digital, identification information with the sound file into a single file; and

means for downloading only the recorded, compressed, digital signals of the sound file onto the permanent memory of the communication package.

2. A UIS according to claim 1, the UIS further comprising means for compressing the encoded, digital, identification information.

3. A UIS according to claim 2 wherein the permanent memory is a programmable read only memory, the UIS further comprising means for recovering the identification information.

4. A UIS according to claim 1, the UIS comprising as operating components:

(A) at least one data transmission system (DTS) comprising;

(1) a telephone jack for receiving analog and digital signals operably connecting analog and digital telecommunication systems to a telecommunication interface means;

(2) telecommunication interface means providing bi-directional analog and digital signal transmission for receiving analog and digital signals, the telecommunication interface means operably connected to transmit the analog signals to a coder/decoder means (CODEC) and the digital signals to a digital signal processor means (DSP);

(3) coder/decoder means (CODEC) for bi-directionally converting incoming analog signals to outgoing digital signals and converting incoming digital signals to outgoing analog signals operably connected to transmit digital signals to a digital signal processor means (DSP);

(4) digital signal processor means (DSP) for compressing and encoding digital signals from the CODEC and expanding digital signals into the CODEC with the DSP operably connected to transmit compressed and encoded digital signals into a data processing and storage system (DPSS);

(B) a data processing and storage system (DPSS) operably connected to both

(1) at least one memory means for recording and storing compressed and encoded digital signals of a sound message and an associated text file from the DSP and

(2) central processing computer means (CPC) operably connected to the memory means with the CPC functions comprising;

(a) detecting signals from the DSP, (b) directing the memory means to respond to signals from the DSP, (c) directing the memory means response to function control key command signals from the CPC and (d) providing means for directing the encoding of digital, identification information to produce a text file of encoded, digital, identification information; and

(C) an input power source operably connected to power all components of the UIS.

5. A UIS according to claim 4, the CPC further comprising means for directing the compressing of encoded, digital, identification information with the recorded, compressed, digital signals to provide a sound file comprising the recorded, compressed, digital signals with a text file of encoded, digital, identification information.

6. A UIS according to claim 5, the CPC further operably connected to a message downloading system (MDS) comprising

(1) a communication package comprising a one time programmable/programmable read only memory (OTP/PROM) and means for

sequencing and controlling flow of data input to the OTP/PROM and

(2) a programming voltage generator (PVG) for powering the programming of the OTP/PROM.

7. A UIS according to claim 6, the DPSS further comprising means for recovering the digital, identification information.

8. A UIS according to claim 6 wherein the CPC further comprises a directory of computerized aids for downloading stored messages from the memory means to the OTP/PROM and soft key buttons (SKB) controlling the operations required for the downloading.

9. A UIS according to claim 6 wherein the MDS further comprises a programming socket (PS) for programming a communication package, the PS located at a surface of the UIS and operably connected to the CPC and PVG to provide an operable linking to the PS for downloading a sound message from the memory means of the UIS to a communication package operably connected into the PS.

10. A UIS according to claim 9 wherein the MDS further comprises a communication package operably connected into the PS.

11. A UIS according to claim 6 wherein the MDS further comprises at least one data port for operably connecting accessory equipment to the UIS to access both data therein and internal operation of the UIS required to obtain the data.

12. A UIS according to claim 11 wherein a least a portion of the is located outside the UIS and is operably connected to the UIS through a data port.

13. A UIS according to claim 11, the UIS further comprising a ganged programming sockets unit (GPSU) operably connected to the data port.

14. A ganged programming sockets unit (GPSU) comprising as operating components:

(A) a GPSU data port and connecting circuitry for operably connecting the GPSU with a data port of a UIS of claim 11 for downloading a sound message from the memory means of the UIS onto a communication package operably connected into an individual programming socket of the GPSU;

(B) a GPSU processing computer (GPSUPC) operably connected to the GPSU data port and a multiplicity of programming sockets whereby the GPSUPC can sort instructions from the CPC of the UIS to transfer information from the memory means of the UIS to an individual programming socket of the GPSU; and

(C) an input power source operably connected to power the components of the GPSU.

15. A UIS according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the DTS further comprises at least one mixed signal transmitter/receiver operably linking the telecommunication interface means with the CPC thereby providing bi-directional signal transmissions therebetween.

16. A UIS according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the DTS further comprises automatic caller identification circuitry operably linking the telecommunication interface means with the CPC thereby allowing an incoming call to be identified and logged by the CPC.

17. A UIS according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the DTS further comprises telephonic ring detection circuitry operably linking the telecommunication interface means with the CPC thereby allowing programmable answering of incoming calls.

18. A UIS according to claim 4, 5 or 6 operably connected to a transfer data network (TDN), the TDN comprising:

(a) a dataline system,

(b) mixed signal transmitter/receivers for simultaneous transfer line operation,

(c) a multiple port interconnecting system operably connecting the mixed signal transmitter/receivers with the dataline system, and

(d) a TDN processing computer (TDNPC) means (1) operably connected to elements (a)-(c) and (2) programmed to coordinate transfer of data between and through elements (a)-(c).

19. A UIS according to claim 18 wherein the TDNPC is (3) programmed to store data;

(4) programmed to provide a central facility for CPC reprogramming and (5) programmed to process data for transfer to a CPC for reproduction.

20. A method for processing and downloading sound messages onto a permanent memory of a communication package, the method comprising:

receiving a sound message;

converting the sound message into digital signals when received in other than digital form;

compressing the digital signals to provide compressed, digital signals;

recording the compressed, digital signals to provide recorded, compressed, digital signals, as a sound file;

combining a text file of encoded, digital, identification information with the sound file into a single file; and

downloading only the recorded, compressed, digital signals of the sound file onto the permanent memory of the communication package.

21. A method of claim 20 further comprising compressing the encoded, digital, identification information.

22. A method of claim 21, wherein the permanent memory is a programmable read only memory the method further comprising recovering the compressed, encoded, identification information.

23. A method of claim 20 further comprising:

(A) receiving an analog telephone message through a telephone jack and telecommunication interface means;

(B) converting incoming analog signals to outgoing digital signals in a coder/decoder means (CODEC);

(C) improving speech and sound fidelity while compressing digital signals from the CODEC in a digital signal processor means (DSP) to provide compressed digital signals; and

(D) recording and storing compressed digital signals of a sound message from the DSP in a memory means.

24. A method of claim 23 further comprising compressing the encoded, digital identification information.

25. A method of claim 23 further comprising

directing a programming voltage generator (PVG) to respond to functional key command signals from a central processing computer means (CPC) to power the programming of a one time programmable/programmable read only memory (OTP/PROM).

26. A method of claim 25 further comprising recovering the encoded, identification information.

27. A method of claim 26 wherein recovering the identification information includes displaying the recovered, identification information.

28. A method of claim 26 wherein recovering the encoded, identification information includes printing of order information using an accessory printer operably attached to a data port.

29. A method of claim 23, 24 or 25, step (D) further comprising:

(1) recording a voice message into the memory means to provide a recorded, voice message;

(2) playing the recorded, voice message;

(3) optionally, re-recording at least a portion of the voice message to provide an improved, recorded, voice message and playing the improved, recorded, voice message; and

(4) repeating step (3) as required to provide an accepted, recorded, voice message.

30. A method of claim 23, 24 or 25 further comprising responding to digital signals from the DSP with recorded instructions from a programmable read only memory means (PROM) for recording and re-recording a message in preparation for step (D).

31. A method according to claim 25 further comprising providing bi-directional signal transmissions between the telecommunication interface means and the CPC using a mixed signal transmitter/receiver operably linking the telecommunication interface means with the CPC.

32. A method according to claim 25 further comprising providing identification and logging of incoming calls by the CPC using automatic caller identification circuitry linking the telecommunication interface means with the CPC.

33. A method according to claim 25 further comprising manual logging of identification information to the CPC after identification of sound or text information.

34. A method according to claim 25 further comprising providing programmed answering of incoming calls using telephonic ring detection circuitry operably linking the telecommunication interface means with the CPC.

35. A method according to claim 25 further comprising controlling the downloading of stored messages from the memory means to the OTP/PROM using a visible directory of computerized aids and soft key buttons (SKB) of the CPC.

36. A method according to claim 25 further comprising downloading a sound message to a communication package operably connected to a programming socket (PS), the PS operably connected to the CPC and PVG.

37. A method according to claim 25 further comprising accessing data through at least one data port.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein a least a portion of the functions of the is carried out by a second CPC through the data port.

39. A method for recording and downloading a sound message onto a communication package having a data port according to claim 37 further comprising downloading a sound message to a communication package operably connected to a programming socket of a ganged programming sockets unit (GPSU) operably connected thereto.

40. A method for recording and downloading a sound message onto a communication package having a data port according claim 37 wherein in the ganged programming sockets unit (GPSU) a GPSU processing computer (GPSUPC), operably connected to the GPSU data port and a multiplicity of programming sockets, sorts instructions from the CPC to transfer information from the memory means to an individual programming socket of the GPSU.

41. A method according to claim 25 further comprising transmitting compressed data from the memory means to the OTP/PROM through means for sequencing and controlling flow of data input located in a unitized application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in a communication package.

42. A method according to claim 25 wherein the method further comprises transferring data to, holding data in and transferring data from a transfer data network (TDN), the method further comprising:

(E) transferring data to a dataline system from a unitized interface system (UIS) and from a multiple port interconnecting system;

(F) transferring data to the multiple port interconnecting system from a dataline system and from a mixed signal transmitter/receiver;

(G) transferring data to the mixed signal transmitter/receiver from a multiple port interconnecting system and from a TDN processing computer (TDNPC);

(H) transferring data to the TDNPC from a mixed signal transmitter/receiver and storing data in the TDNPC while coordinating steps (E)-(H) through control by the TDNPC.

43. A method according to claim 42 wherein transferring data to, holding data in and transferring data from a TDN further comprises at least one function chosen from the group consisting of (1) storing data in the TDNPC;

(2) reprogramming a processing computer located in a UIS;

(3) processing data for transfer to the CPC of a UIS for storage and (4) processing data for transfer to the CPC of a UIS for printout.