Two-way voice messaging terminal having a speech to text converter

• US 5,724,410 A
• Filed: 12/18/1995
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Parvulescu, Adrian, Zidel, Andrew Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/573,624
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/56.1, 379/57, 379/58, 379/67, 379/87, 379/88, 379/89, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/93.15, 379/93.17, 379/93.24, 379/100.01 , 379/100.06, 379/100.08, 379/100.13, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/101.01, 379/110.01, 379/355, 358/402, 358/440, 455/31.1, 455/311.3, 455/38, 455/39, 340/825.44, 340/825.15, 340/311.1, 340/313, 395/2.79, 395/2.67, 364/240.9, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1033 with voice message alert
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/651 with speech synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A two-way voice messaging terminal for communicating with a receiving terminal which may or may not be capable of reproducing a voice message transmitted from the voice messaging terminal. A voice message is digitally encoded and stored in a memory. A receiving terminal selection unit connected to the first memory preferably allows for the selection of the receiving terminal(s) to which the voice message is to be transmitted. The receiving terminal selection unit then receives the stored, digitally encoded voice message and determines whether the selected receiving terminal(s) is(are) capable of reproducing the voice message. If the receiving terminal(s) can reproduce the voice message, the voice message is transmitted to the selected receiving terminal(s). If the terminal(s) is(are) not capable of reproducing the voice message, the voice message is converted into a text message in a speech-to-text converter in the voice messaging terminal and then transmitted to the selected receiving terminal(s). The voice messaging terminal may also have a text-to-speech converter to convert a response text message into a synthesized voice message, the response text message being sent from the selected receiving terminal(s) in response to the voice message transmitted by the voice messaging terminal.

Claims

1. A voice messaging terminal for communicating with at least one receiving terminal, comprising:

microphone means for receiving a voice message, and for converting said voice message to an analog electrical signal;

first processing means for digitizing said analog electrical signal into a coded digital signal;

a first memory for storing said coded digital signal;

receiving terminal selection means connected to said first memory for determining whether said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message and for providing a first output of said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message and for providing a second output of said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message;

converter means for converting said coded digital signal into a text message in response to said first output from said receiving terminal selection means;

encoding means for encoding said text message with a communications protocol to provide an encoded text message in response to said first output from said receiving terminal selection means and for encoding said coded digital signal with said communications protocol to provide an encoded digital voice message in response to said second output from said receiving terminal selection means; and

,

transmitting means for transmitting said encoded text message in response to said first output from said receiving terminal selection means and for transmitting said encoded voice message in response to said second output from said receiving terminal selection means.

2. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, further comprising playback means connected to said first memory for replaying said stored coded digital signal as said voice message.

3. The voice messaging terminal of claim 2, wherein said playback means include:

an actuator connected to said first memory, wherein actuation of said actuator causes said first memory to read out said stored coded digital signal to said first processing means;

first audio reproducing means, for receiving the output of said first processing means, and for reproducing said voice message.

4. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said second memory comprises a nonvolatile memory.

5. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, further comprising a second memory connected to said receiving terminal selection means, said second memory for storing an address of said at least one receiving terminal and for storing information relating to said at least one receiving terminal'"'"'s capability of reproducing said voice message.

6. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said first processing means comprises a CODEC.

7. The voice messaging terminal of claim 6, wherein said CODEC includes a digital signal processor.

8. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said receiving terminal selection means further comprises means for enabling selection of said at least one receiving terminal to which said voice message is to be transmitted.

9. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises:

first receiving means for receiving said encoded text message;

decoding means for decoding said communications protocol of said encoded text message;

a third memory for storing said decoded text message; and

,

a display to display said decoded text message.

10. The voice messaging terminal of claim 9, wherein said at least one receiving terminal further comprises an actuator, wherein actuation of said actuator causes said decoded text message to be displayed on said display.

11. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises:

first receiving means for receiving said encoded voice message;

decoding means for decoding said communications protocol of said encoded voice message;

a third memory for storing said decoded voice message;

second processing means for decoding said stored voice message to produce an analog signal; and

,

second audio reproducing means for reproducing said analog signal as said voice message.

12. The voice messaging terminal of claim 11, wherein said second processing means comprises a CODEC.

13. The voice messaging terminal of claim 12, wherein said CODEC includes a digital signal processor.

14. The voice messaging terminal of claim 11, wherein said second audio reproducing means include:

an actuator connected to said third memory, wherein actuation of said actuator causes said third memory to read out said stored coded digital signal to said CODEC, the output of said CODEC being an analog signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the analog signal output of said CODEC; and

,

a speaker connected to said amplifier to reproduce said analog signal output.

15. The voice messaging terminal of claim 9, wherein said at least one receiving terminal further comprises means for providing a response text message in response to said received text message, and wherein said voice messaging terminal further comprises:

second receiving means for receiving said response text message having a communications protocol;

decoder means for decoding said communications protocol of said response text message;

a fourth memory for storing said decoded response text message;

means for displaying said response text message.

16. The voice messaging terminal of claim 15, wherein said voice messaging terminal further comprises:

text-to-speech converter means for converting said response text message into coded speech signals, wherein said coded speech signals are provided to said first processing means for decoding said coded speech signals to produce an analog signal and wherein said analog signal is reproduced by said first audio reproducing means amplified by said first amplifier and said analog signal is reproduced at said first speaker.

17. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises a computer.

18. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises a personal digital assistant.

19. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises a facsimile machine.

20. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises a text-only messaging terminal.

30. The voice messaging terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises:

a first radio frequency receiver for receiving said encoded voice message;

a decoder for decoding said communications protocol of said encoded voice message;

a third memory for storing said decoded voice message;

a second CODEC for decoding said stored voice message to produce an analog signal;

an second amplifier for amplifying said analog signal; and

,

a second speaker for reproducing said amplified analog signal as said voice message.

31. The voice messaging terminal of claim 30, wherein said second CODEC includes a digital signal processor.

32. The voice messaging terminal of claim 30, wherein at least one receiving terminal further comprises an actuator connected to said third memory and to said second CODEC, wherein actuation of said actuator causes said third memory to read out said stored decoded voice message to said CODEC.

21. A voice messaging terminal for communicating with at least one receiving terminal, said voice messaging terminal comprising:

a microphone for receiving a voice message, and for converting said voice message to an analog electrical signal;

a first CODEC for digitizing said analog electrical signal into a coded digital signal;

a first memory for storing said coded digital signal;

a receiving terminal selection means, including a second memory, and connected to said first memory for determining whether said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message;

a speech-to-text converter for converting said coded digital signal into a text message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message;

a protocol encoder means for encoding said coded digital signal with a communications protocol to provide an encoded digital voice message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message and for encoding said text message with said communications protocol to provide an encoded text message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting said encoded digital voice message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message and for transmitting said encoded text message if said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message.

22. The voice messaging terminal of claim 21, further comprising playback means connected to said first memory for replaying said stored coded digital signal through said first CODEC as said voice message.

23. The voice messaging terminal of claim 22, wherein said playback means include:

an actuator connected to said first memory, wherein actuation of said actuator causes said first memory to read out said stored coded digital signal to said first CODEC;

a first amplifier for amplyifing the analog signal output from said CODEC; and

,

a first speaker connected to said amplifier to reproduce said analog signal.

24. The voice messaging terminal of claim 21, wherein said first memory comprises a nonvolatile memory.

25. The voice messaging terminal of claim 21, wherein said second memory stores a plurality of addresses, including an address of said at least one receiving terminal and further stores information relating to said at least one receiving terminal'"'"'s capability of reproducing said voice message.

26. The voice messaging terminal of claim 21, wherein said first CODEC includes a digital signal processor.

27. The voice messaging terminal of claim 21, wherein said receiving terminal selection means further comprises means for enabling selection of said at least one receiving terminal to which said voice message is to be transmitted.

28. The voice messaging terminal of claim 21, wherein said at least one receiving terminal comprises:

a first radio frequency receiver for receiving said encoded text message;

a decoder for decoding said communications protocol of said encoded text message;

a third memory for storing said decoded text message; and

,

a display to display said decoded text message.

29. The voice messaging terminal of claim 28, wherein said at least one receiving terminal further comprises an actuator, wherein actuation of said actuator causes said decoded text message to be displayed on said display.

33. The voice messaging terminal of claim 22, wherein said at least one receiving terminal further comprises means for providing a response text message in response to said received text message, and wherein said voice messaging terminal further comprises:

a second radio receiver for receiving said response text message having a communications protocol;

a decoder for decoding said communications protocol of said response text message;

a fourth memory for storing said decoded response text message; and

,

a display for displaying said response text message.

34. The voice messaging terminal of claim 33, wherein said voice messaging terminal further comprises:

a text-to-speech converter for converting said response text message into coded speech signals, wherein said coded speech signals are provided to said first CODEC for decoding said coded speech signals to produce an analog signal and wherein said analog signal is amplified by said first amplifier and said analog signal is reproduced at said first speaker.

35. A method for providing communications from a voice messaging terminal to at least one receiving terminal, comprising the steps of:

receiving a voice message at a microphone;

converting said voice message into an analog electrical signal at said microphone;

digitizing said analog electrical signal into a coded digital signal;

storing said coded digital signal in a first memory;

determining whether said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message;

converting said coded digital signal into a text message if a receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message;

encoding said coded digital signal with a communications protocol to provide an encoded digital voice message if said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message or encoding said text message with said communications protocol to provide an encoded text message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message; and

,

transmitting said encoded digital voice message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice message or transmitting said encoded text message of said receiving terminal selection means determines that said at least one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing said voice message.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said encoded text message in a first one of said at least one receiving terminals;

decoding said communications protocol of said encoded text message;

storing said decoded text message in a second memory; and

,

displaying said decoded text message.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said encoded voice message in a second one of said at least one receiving terminals;

decoding said communications protocol of said encoded voice message;

storing said decoded voice message in a second memory;

decoding said stored voice message to produce an analog signal; and

,

reproducing said analog signal as said voice message.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said digitizing step is carried out in a CODEC.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said converting step is carried out in a speech to text converter.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said stored voice message decoding step is carded out in a CODEC.