Apparatus for speech-based generation, audio translation, and manipulation of text messages over voice lines

• US 6,138,096 A
• Filed: 03/18/1997
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Addvalue Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Add Value Holdings Pte Limited
• Inventors: Chan, Colin Kum Lok, Tan, Khai Pang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZINTEL, HAROLD ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/819,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 704/235, 704/277, 704/200
• US Class Current: 704/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Signal processing apparatus for providing a conversion of audio and E-mail signals received from a network interface 13 and for supplying the signals either to an audio reception device 80 in the form of a telephone handset or to a video reception in the form of a video processor 8 for display on a television set 9 and, selectively, for converting the received signals for reception on the other reception device.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a telephonic link;

means for establishing an audio link to an audio transceiver and a keypad;

means for selecting a message transmission type as either a text or a voice;

means for converting an audio signal input from the audio link into a text signal, when the message transmission type is selected to be the text;

means for extracting from the text signal, a destination address delimited by keystrokes when the message transmission type is selected to be the text; and

means for selectively transmitting over the telephonic link, based on the selected message transmission type, one of the audio signal and at least part of the text signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said telephonic link establishing means establishes the telephonic link to a modem.

3. The signal processing apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a video display.

4. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus is connected to the user end of a telephone line.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said key strokes comprise combinations of # and * key strokes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio transceiver connectable to said audio link establishing means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said audio transceiver comprises a telephone handset.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for establishing a link to a text input device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a text input device connectable to said text input device connection establishing means.

10. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a telephonic link;

means for establishing an audio link to an audio transceiver and a keypad;

means for selecting a message transmission type as either a text or a voice;

means for converting an audio signal input from the audio link into a text signal, when the message transmission type is selected to be the text; and

means for extracting from the text signal, a destination address, when the message transmission type is selected to be the text;

wherein said destination address comprises a code corresponding to said destination address, said signal processing apparatus further comprising a look-up table for storing an address corresponding to said code.

11. The signal processing apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising a video display.

12. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a speech and data signal over a telephonic link from a remote location, said speech and data signal including a spoken message and an E-mail destination address;

means for converting said spoken message to a text signal; and

means for transmitting said text signal over said telephonic link to said E-mail destination address,

wherein said E-mail destination address is separated from the spoken message by key strokes of a telephone handset.

13. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the apparatus is connected to the user end of a telephone line.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said key strokes comprise combinations of # and * key strokes.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said E-mail destination address is in a form of a code corresponding to an address, said signal processing apparatus further comprising a look-up table for storing the address corresponding to said code.

16. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a telephonic link connection unit that establishes a telephonic link;

an audio transceiver connection unit that establishes an audio link to an audio transceiver;

a micro controller that selects a message transmission type as either text or voice;

a signal processor that converts an audio signal input from the audio link into a text signal, when the message transmission type is selected to be the text;

the micro controller extracting from the text signal, a destination address delimited by keystrokes when the message transmission type is selected to be the text; and

a transmitter that selectively transmits over the telephonic link, based on the selected message transmission type, one of the audio signal and at least part of the text signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the key strokes comprise combinations of # and * key strokes.

18. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is connected to the user end of a telephone line.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an audio transceiver connectable to the audio transceiver connection unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the audio transceiver comprises a telephone handset.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a text input device connection unit that establishes a link to a text input device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a text input device connectable to the text input device connection unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the telephonic link connection unit establishes the telephonic link to a modem.

24. The signal processing apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising a video display.

25. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a speech receiver that receives a speech and data signal over a telephonic link from a remote location, the speech and data signal including a spoken message and an E-mail destination address;

a converter that converts the spoken message to a text signal; and

a transmitter that transmits the text signal over the telephonic link to the E-mail destination address,

wherein the E-mail destination address is separated from the spoken message by key strokes of a telephone handset.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the key strokes comprise combinations of # and * key strokes.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the E-mail destination address is in a form of a code corresponding to an address, the signal processing apparatus further comprising a look-up table for storing the address corresponding to the code.

28. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus is connected to the user end of a telephone line.

29. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a telephonic link connection unit that establishes a telephonic link;

an audio transceiver connection unit that establishes an audio link to an audio transceiver;

a micro controller that selects a message transmission type as either text or voice;

a signal processor that converts an audio signal input from the audio link into a text signal, when the message transmission type is selected to be the text; and

the micro controller extracting from the text signal, a destination address, when the message transmission type is selected to be the text;

wherein the destination address comprises a code corresponding to the destination address, the signal processing apparatus further comprising a look-up table for storing an address corresponding to the code.

30. The signal processing apparatus as in claim 29, further comprising a video display.