Voice recording and/or reproducing apparatus

• US 5,903,871 A
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Tobinai, Masatoshi, Terui, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAX, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/838,114
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/500
• US Class Current: 704/500
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters

Abstract

A voice recording and/or reproducing apparatus has a memory for storing information unique to a user and/or information unique to the apparatus. When recording a voice file, the unique information is recorded in index information. Preferably, a unique file number is also recorded. In order that a voice file can be recognized by a personal computer or other information apparatus, a predetermined identifier consisting of one to three characters is added to the name of the voice file. When reproducing, a voice file having a name including the predetermined identifier consisting of one to three characters is selected and reproduced.

Claims

1. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

information storage means for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

identification code generating means for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

analog-to-digital converting means for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

data compressing means for compressing the digital signal to create voice data;

recording means for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

file reading means for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

data decompressing means for decompressing the voice data of the file read out by the file reading means;

digital-to-analog converting means for converting the voice data decompressed by the data decompressing means to an analog signal; and

detecting means for detecting that the index information of the file read out by the file reading means includes the identification code.

2. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for setting the information unique to the user.

3. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising file number generating means for generating a unique file number in the recording medium, in which the identification code generating means generates the identification code based on the predetermined information and the file number.

4. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 3, in which the file number generating means sequentially generates successive file numbers.

5. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 3, in which the file number generating means sequentially generates random file numbers.

6. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, in which the identification code includes a discrimination signal for indicating that the file is a voice file.

7. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, in which the recording medium is a memory card which can be electrically and mechanically coupled to and removed from the voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

8. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

information storage means for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

identification code generating means for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

recording means for recording to the recording medium voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code; and

reproducing means for reproducing the recorded voice data.

9. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for setting the information unique to the user.

10. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising file number generating means for generating a unique file number in the recording medium, in which the identification code generating means generates the identification code based on the predetermined information and the file number.

11. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 10, in which the file number generating means sequentially generates successive file numbers.

12. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 10, in which the file number generating means sequentially generates random file numbers.

13. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 8, in which the recording medium is a memory card which can be electrically and mechanically coupled to and removed from the voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

14. A voice recording apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

analog-to-digital converting means for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

data compressing means for compressing the digital signal to create voice data; and

recording means for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters.

15. The voice recording apparatus of claim 14, further comprising file number generating means for generating a unique file number in the recording medium, in which the index information includes the file number and a discrimination signal for indicating that the file is a voice file.

33. The voice recording apparatus of claim 14, wherein the index information includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording apparatus.

16. A voice reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

file reading means for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

data decompressing means for decompressing digital voice data of the file read out by the file reading means; and

digital-to-analog converting means for converting the digital voice data decompressed by the data decompressing means to an analog signal.

18. The voice recording apparatus of claim 16, further comprising detecting means for detecting that index information of the file read out by the file reading means includes a file number and a discrimination signal for indicating that the file is a voice file.

34. The voice reproducing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the file is associated with index information that includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice reproducing apparatus.

17. A voice reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

file reading means for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

data transfer means for transferring the file read out by the file reading means to the voice reproducing apparatus;

data decompressing means for decompressing digital voice data of the file transferred by the data transfer means; and

digital-to-analog converting means for converting the digital voice data decompressed by the data decompressing means to an analog signal.

35. The voice reproducing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the file is associated with index information that includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice reproducing apparatus.

19. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

analog-to-digital converting means for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

data compressing means for compressing the digital signal to create voice data;

recording means for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

file reading means for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

data decompressing means for decompressing the voice data of the file read out by the file reading means; and

digital-to-analog converting means for converting the voice data decompressed by the data decompressing means to an analog signal.

20. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 19, further comprising file number generating means for generating a unique file number in the recording medium, in which the index information includes the file number and a discrimination signal for indicating that the file is a voice file, the voice recording and reproducing apparatus further comprising detecting means for detecting that the index information of the file read out by the file reading means includes the discrimination signal and the file number.

36. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the index information includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

21. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

an information storage medium for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

a digital signal processor for compressing the digital signal to create voice data and for decompressing the voice data to restore it to the digital signal;

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital signal to an analog signal; and

a control circuit for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information, for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters, for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters, and for detecting the identification code included in the index information of the read-out file.

22. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

an information storage medium for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

a control circuit for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information and for recording, to the recording medium, voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code; and

reproducing means for reproducing the recorded voice data.

23. A voice recording apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

a digital signal processor for compressing the digital signal to create voice data; and

a control circuit for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters.

37. The voice recording apparatus of claim 23, wherein the index information includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording apparatus.

24. A voice reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

a control circuit for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

a digital signal processor for decompressing digital voice data of the read-out file; and

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the decompressed digital voice date to an analog signal.

38. The voice reproducing apparatus of claim 24, wherein the file is associated with index information that includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice reproducing apparatus.

25. A voice reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

a controller for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters and for transferring the read-out file to the voice reproducing apparatus;

a digital signal processor for decompressing digital voice data of the transferred file; and

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the decompressed digital voice data to an analog signal.

39. The voice reproducing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the file is associated with index information that includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice reproducing apparatus.

26. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

a digital signal processor for compressing the digital signal to create voice data and for decompressing the voice data to restore it to the digital signal;

a control circuit for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters, and for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters; and

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital signal to an analog signal.

40. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 26, wherein the index information includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

27. A voice recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a voice recording and reproducing apparatus, predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

when recording, converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

compressing the digital signal to create voice data;

generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

adding the identification code to an index of the voice data;

creating a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters; and

recording the voice file to a recording medium; and

when reproducing, reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension;

decompressing the voice data of the read-out file;

converting the decompressed voice data to an analog signal;

reproducing a voice from the analog signal; and

detecting the identification code in the index of the voice file.

28. A voice recording method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a voice recording apparatus, predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording apparatus;

converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

compressing the digital signal to create voice data;

generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

adding the identification code to an index of the voice data;

creating a voice file; and

recording the voice file to a recording medium.

29. A voice recording method comprising the steps of:

converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

compressing the digital signal to create voice data;

adding index information to the voice data;

creating a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters; and

recording the voice file to a recording medium.

41. The voice recording method of claim 29, wherein the index information includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to a voice recording apparatus.

30. A voice reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading out, from a recording medium, only a file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

decompressing digital voice data of the read-out file;

converting the decompressed digital voice data to an analog signal; and

reproducing a voice from the analog signal.

42. The voice reproducing method of claim 30, wherein the file is associated with index information that includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to a voice reproducing apparatus.

31. A voice reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading out, from a recording medium, only a file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters;

decompressing digital voice data of the read-out file;

converting the decompressed digital voice data to an analog signal; and

transmitting the analog signal to a voice reproducing apparatus to reproduce a voice from the analog signal.

43. The voice reproducing method of claim 31, wherein the file is associated with index information that includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to a voice reproducing apparatus.

32. A voice recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

when recording, converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

compressing the digital signal to create voice data;

adding index information to the voice data;

creating a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters; and

recording the voice file to a recording medium; and

when reproducing, reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension;

decompressing the voice data of the read-out file;

converting the decompressed voice data to an analog signal; and

reproducing a voice from the analog signal.

44. The voice recording and reproducing method of claim 32, wherein the index information includes an identification code based on predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to a voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

45. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

a control circuit including a microprocessor for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing an input signal to a digital signal;

a digital signal processor for compressing the digital signal to create voice data, wherein;

the control circuit records to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters,

the control circuit reads out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension consisting of one to three characters,

the digital signal processor decompresses the voice data of the file read out by the control circuit, and

the control circuit detects that the index information of the file read out by the control circuit includes the identification code; and

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the voice data decompressed by the arrangement for decompressing to an analog signal.

46. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

information storage means for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

identification code generating means for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

analog-to-digital converting means for converting an analog signal representing an input signal to a digital signal corresponding to voice data;

recording means for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension;

file reading means for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension;

digital-to-analog converting means for converting the digital signal to an analog signal; and

detecting means for detecting that the index information of the file read out by the file reading means includes the identification code.

47. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 46, further comprising means for setting the information unique to the user.

48. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 46, further comprising file number generating means for generating a unique file number in the recording medium, in which the identification code generating means generates the identification code based on the predetermined information and the file number.

49. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 48, in which the file number generating means sequentially generates successive file numbers.

50. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 48, in which the file number generating means sequentially generates random file numbers.

51. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 46, in which the identification code includes a discrimination signal for indicating that the file is a voice file.

52. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 46, in which the recording medium is a memory card which can be electrically and mechanically coupled to and removed from the voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

53. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

a control circuit including a microprocessor for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing an input signal to a digital signal corresponding to voice data, wherein the control circuit;

records to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension,

reads out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension, and

detects that the index information of the file read out by the control circuit includes the identification code; and

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital signal to an analog signal.

54. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 53, further comprising an operation portion including a plurality of buttons for setting the information unique to the user.

55. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 53, wherein the control circuit generates a unique file number in the recording medium, and wherein the control circuit generates the identification code based on the predetermined information and the file number.

56. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 53, wherein the control circuit sequentially generates successive file numbers.

57. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 53, wherein the control circuit sequentially generates random file numbers.

58. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 53, in which the identification code includes a discrimination signal for indicating that the file is a voice file.

59. The voice recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 53, in which the recording medium is a memory card which can be electrically and mechanically coupled to and removed from the voice recording and reproducing apparatus.

60. A voice recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

an information storage medium for storing predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording and reproducing apparatus;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal corresponding to voice data;

a digital-to analog converter for converting the digital signal to an analog signal; and

a control circuit for generating an identification code based on the predetermined information, for recording to the recording medium the voice data and index information of the voice data including the identification code, as a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension, for reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension, and for detecting the identification code included in the index information of the file read-out by the control circuit.

61. A voice recording and reproducing method, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a voice recording and reproducing apparatus, predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording an reproducing apparatus;

when recording, converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal corresponding to voice data, generating an identification code based on the predetermined information, adding the identification code to an index of the voice data, creating a voice file having a name including a predetermined extension, and recording the voice file to a recording medium; and

when reproducing, reading out, from the recording medium, only a file having a name including the predetermined extension, converting the digital signal to an analog signal, reproducing a voice from the analog signal, and detecting the identification code in the index of the voice file.

62. A voice recording method, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a voice recording apparatus, predetermined information including at least one of information unique to a user and information unique to the voice recording apparatus;

converting an analog signal representing an input voice to a digital signal;

generating an identification code based on the predetermined information;

adding the identification code to an index of the digital signal;

creating a voice file; and

recording the voice file to a recording medium.