Voice recording device having portable and local modes of operation

• US 5,818,800 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Voice Domain Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Bruce James Barker
• Inventors: Barker, Bruce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US08/478,344
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 369/25, 369/27, 369/29, 395/2.84, 395/2.4, 395/164, 345/158, 345/169, 381/51, 381/43
• US Class Current: 369/29.02
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/42 Platinum
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/44 Palladium
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/46 Ruthenium, rhodium, osmium or iridium
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/745 Iron
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/75 Cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/755 Nickel
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/08 of the faujasite type, e.g. type X or Y
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/18 of the mordenite type
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/70 of types characterised by their specific structure not provided for in groups C07C2529/08 - C07C2529/65
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• 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

Abstract

An improved voice input peripheral operates in at least two modes, a portable mode (in which the peripheral records a user'"'"'s voice in the peripheral'"'"'s memory) and a "local mode" (in which the peripheral downloads the contents of its memory to a computer and is used to control the computer. The peripheral includes a microphone, pointer, a pair of buttons, a bar graph display screen, a loudspeaker and a transmitter. While the user is away from the computer, he places the peripheral in the portable mode. In this mode, the microphone, pointer and pair of buttons allow the user to control the peripheral to store the user'"'"'s voice in the peripheral'"'"'s memory. The loudspeaker and bar graph assist the user in locating and listening to desired portions of the recorded voice. When the user returns to the computer, he places the peripheral in the local mode. In this mode, the transmitter downloads the content of the peripheral'"'"'s memory to the computer and transmits signals to the computer which are representative of the microphone signal, the status of the buttons, and the status of the pointer, to thereby allow the user to operate the computer using the peripheral.

Claims

1. A portable voice storage peripheral comprising:

a microphone for providing a microphone signal representative of a user'"'"'s voice,

a memory device,

a position transducer for providing a position signal in response to a user'"'"'s actuation of said position transducer,

a controller having a portable mode and a local mode of operation, wherein

during said portable mode of operation, said controller stores in said memory a memory signal representative of said microphone signal commencing at a location in said memory identified by said position signal, and

during said local mode of operation, said controller provides said microphone signal, said memory signal and said position signal to a remote voice processing system for controlling said processing system.

2. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 1 further comprising:

a chassis, having a handle portion shaped to fit in a user'"'"'s hand, which supports said microphone to allow the user to hold the microphone near the user'"'"'s mouth while holding said handle portion, and

supports said position transducer within the reach of a finger of said hand grasping said handle portion to allow the user to operate said position transducer with said finger while holding said microphone near the user'"'"'s mouth.

3. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 2 wherein said position transducer is positioned within the vicinity of a user'"'"'s thumb of said hand when said user is holding said handle portion, to allow said user to operate said position transducer with said thumb.

4. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 2 further comprising:

a display device, supported by said chassis, for displaying a cursor representative of a selected location in said memory, wherein said controller, during said portable mode of operation, instructs said display device to display said cursor at a position identified by said position signal.

5. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 1 further comprising a record button for providing a data notification signal indicating whether said record button is asserted, and wherein:

during said portable mode, said controller, in response to said data notification signal, stores said memory signal in said memory, and

during said local mode of operation, said controller provides a signal to said processing system indicating that said record button is asserted.

6. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 5 further comprising:

a command button for providing a command notification signal indicating whether said command button is asserted, wherein;

during said portable mode, said controller, in response to said command notification signal, interprets said microphone signal to detect spoken commands, and

during said local mode of operation, said controller provides a signal to said processing system indicating that said command button is asserted.

7. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 2 further comprising a record button supported by said chassis at a position in the vicinity of a user'"'"'s finger when said user is holding said handle portion, for providing a data notification signal indicating whether said record button is asserted, and wherein:

during said portable mode, said controller, in response to said data notification signal, stores said memory signal in said memory, and

during said local mode of operation, said controller provides a signal to said processing system indicating that said record button is asserted.

8. The portable voice storage peripheral of claim 7 further comprising:

a command button supported by said chassis at a position in the vicinity of a user'"'"'s finger when said user is holding said handle portion, for providing a command notification signal indicating whether said command button is asserted, wherein;

during said portable mode, said controller, in response to said command notification signal, interprets said microphone signal to detect spoken commands, and

during said local mode of operation, said controller provides a signal to said processing system indicating that said command button is asserted.