Portable digital audio recorder with adaptive control configurations

• US 6,038,199 A
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Colon, Richard S., Dwyer, John J., Rothschild, Stephen, Godin, David K., Pawlowski, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US09/190,198
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 369/25, 369/7, 369/26, 369/27, 369/28, 369/29, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/75
• US Class Current: 369/29.02
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A portable digital audio recorder provides a first set of control or editing options with respect to a first category of voice data files stored in the recorder, and provides a different set of control or editing options with respect to a second category of voice data files stored in the recorder. The recorder may also be conveniently shared among a number of users and adapts various operating parameters to the preferences of the current user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portable digital audio recorder, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of voice data files in said recorder, at least one of said voice data files being of a first type, and at least one of said voice data files being of a second type different from said first type;

selecting one of said stored voice data files;

determining a type of the selected voice data file;

providing a first set of control options with respect to the selected voice data file if the selected voice data file is of the first type; and

if the selected data file is of the second type, providing a second set of control options with respect to the selected voice data file, said second set of control options being different from said first set of control options.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first set of control options includes a record-append option whereby a user of the recorder is permitted to record voice data at an end of the selected voice data file, said record-append option not being included in said second set of control options.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first type of voice data files consists of voice data files corresponding to audio signals input into the recorder via a microphone included in the recorder, and said second type of voice data files consists of voice mail messages downloaded to the recorder from a device separate from said recorder.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said first set of control options includes an upload option whereby a user of the recorder is permitted to upload the selected voice data file to a device separate from the recorder, said upload option not being included in said second set of control options.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said second set of control options includes a reply option whereby a user of the recorder is permitted to generate a voice message reply to the selected voice data file, said recorder automatically generating address data for said voice message reply, said addressee data corresponding to sender data for the selected voice data file, said reply option not being included in said first set of control options.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first set of control options includes options for editing the selected voice data file, and said second set of control options does not include said options for editing the selected voice data file.

7. A portable digital audio recorder, comprising:

a microphone for converting voice sounds spoken by a user of the recorder into analog electrical signals;

means for converting the analog electrical signals into digital voice signals;

a recording medium for storing the digital voice signals in the form of a plurality of voice data files, at least one of said voice data files being of a first type, and at least one of said voice data files being of a second type different from said first type;

means for selecting one of said stored voice data files;

means for determining a type of the selected voice data file; and

control means for providing a first set of control options with respect to the selected voice data file if the selected voice data file is of the first type, and for providing a second set of control options with respect to the selected voice data file if the selected voice data file is of the second type, said second set of control options being different from said first set of control options.

8. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 7, wherein said first set of control options includes a record-append option whereby a user of the recorder is permitted to record voice data at an end of the selected voice data file, said record-append option not being included in said second set of control options.

9. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 7, wherein said first type of voice data files consists of voice data files corresponding to audio signals input into the recorder via said microphone, and said second type of voice data files consists of voice mail messages downloaded to the recorder from a device separate from said recorder.

10. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 9, wherein said first set of control options includes an upload option whereby a user of the recorder is permitted to upload the selected voice data file to a device separate from the recorder, said upload option not being included in said second set of control options.

11. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 9, wherein said second set of control options includes a reply option whereby a user of the recorder is permitted to generate a voice message reply to the selected voice data file, said recorder automatically generating address data for said voice message reply, said addressee data corresponding to sender data for the selected voice data file, said reply option not being included in said first set of control options.

12. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 7, wherein said first set of control options includes options for editing the selected voice data file, and said second set of control options does not include said options for editing the selected voice data file.

13. A portable digital audio recorder, comprising:

a microphone for converting voice sounds spoken by a user of the recorder into analog electrical signals;

means for converting the analog electrical signals into digital voice signals;

a recording medium for storing the digital voice signals;

means for generating identification data which identifies the user of the recorder; and

means for setting operating parameters for the recorder on the basis of the identification data.

14. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 13, wherein said means for generating includes means for detecting characteristics of the user'"'"'s voice.

15. A portable digital audio recorder according to claim 13, wherein said operating parameters set by said means for setting include at least one of output volume level, playback speed, rewind increment, VOX sensitivity;

and timing of end zone warning.

16. A portable digital recorder according to claim 13, wherein said recording medium is a solid state memory card.

17. A method of operating a portable digital audio recorder, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of sets of operating parameters for said portable digital audio recorder;

generating identification data which identifies a current user of the recorder;

selecting one of the stored sets of operating parameters on the basis of said identification data; and

operating the recorder in accordance with the selected set of operating parameters.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said set of operating parameters includes at least one of output volume level, playback speed, rewind increment, VOX sensitivity, and timing of end zone warning.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said generating step includes receiving voice sounds spoken by the current user and analyzing the voice sounds to detect the identity of the current user.