Voice data transmission/storage system

• US 6,148,287 A
• Filed: 10/03/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamakita, Tooru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US08/943,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 704/246, 704/270, 704/275, 704/277, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 379/88.25, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.27, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/69, 379/74, 379/76, 379/79, 379/80
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/088 Word spotting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components

Abstract

A voice data storage system includes a network connected to a portable portable terminal, and a voice data storage computer for, when voice data fetched by a microphone of the portable terminal is received through the network, storing the voice data together with a keyword in correspondence with the portable terminal which has fetched the voice data. To read out the stored voice data, a keyword is input from the portable terminal to request, through the network, the voice data storage computer to retrieve the voice data. The voice data storage computer retrieves the voice data on the basis of the keyword and transmits the corresponding voice data to the portable terminal.

Claims

1. A portable terminal apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a voice data base apparatus for storing and retrieving voice data, said portable terminal apparatus comprising:

a voice input device;

a voice output device;

a frame processing device configured to create a frame in response to a storage instruction from a user of the portable terminal apparatus and to send the frame to the voice data base apparatus, said frame including voice data input from the voice input device, an identification code of the portable terminal apparatus, and a storage command for causing the voice data base apparatus to store the input voice data with the identification code;

is a retrieval controller configured to send the identification code and a retrieval command to the voice data base apparatus in response to a retrieval instruction from the user of the portable terminal apparatus, said retrieval command causing the voice data base apparatus to retrieve desired voice data based on the identification code; and

a voice data receiver configured to receive the voice data retrieved by the voice data base apparatus and to output the received voice data through the voice output device.

2. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said frame further comprises a part of the input voice data as a keyword;

said retrieval controller also sends a desired keyword to the voice data base apparatus; and

said retrieval command causes the voice data base apparatus to retrieve the desired voice data based on the identification code and the desired keyword.

3. A portable terminal apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a voice data base apparatus for storing and retrieving voice data, said portable terminal apparatus comprising:

a voice input device;

a voice output device;

a frame processing device configured to create a frame in response to a storage instruction from a user of the portable terminal apparatus and to send the frame to the voice data base apparatus, said frame including voice data input from the voice input device, a keyword of the input voice data, and a storage command for causing the voice data base apparatus to store the input voice data with the keyword;

a retrieval controller configured to send a desired keyword and a retrieval command to the voice data base apparatus in response to a retrieval instruction from the user of the portable terminal apparatus, said retrieval command causing the voice data base apparatus to retrieve desired voice data based on the desired key word; and

a voice data receiver configured to receive the voice data retrieved by the voice data base apparatus and to output the received voice data through the voice output device.

4. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said frame further comprises an identification code of the portable terminal apparatus;

said retrieval controller also sends the identification code to the voice data base apparatus; and

said retrieval command causes the voice data base apparatus to retrieve the desired voice data based on the identification code and the desired keyword.

5. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said keyword comprises a part of the input voice data.

6. A portable terminal apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a voice data base apparatus for storing and retrieving voice data, said portable terminal apparatus comprising:

a voice input device;

a voice output device;

a memory configured to store a predetermined amount of voice data input by the voice input device;

a frame processing device configured to create a frame including the voice data stored in the memory and a storage command for causing the voice data base apparatus to store said voice data every time the memory stores the predetermined amount, and to send the frame to the voice data base apparatus;

a retrieval controller configured to send a retrieval command to the voice data base apparatus in response to a retrieval instruction from a user of the portable terminal apparatus, said retrieval command causing the voice data base apparatus to retrieve desired voice data corresponding to the portable terminal apparatus; and

a voice data receiver configured to receive the voice data retrieved by the voice data base apparatus and to output the received voice data through the voice output device.

7. A voice data base apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a plurality of portable terminal apparatuses which are each configured to issue a storage command, a retrieval command, voice data, a keyword of the voice data, and an identification code, said voice data base apparatus comprising:

a storage controller, responsive to receipt of a storage command from a first one of the portable terminal apparatuses, for storing voice data and a keyword of the voice data received from the first one of the portable terminal apparatuses along with the identification code of the first one of the portable terminal apparatuses;

a retrieval controller, responsive to receipt of a retrieval command from a second one of the portable terminal apparatuses, for retrieving desired voice data based on a desired keyword received from the second one of the portable terminal apparatuses and the identification code of the second one of the portable terminal apparatuses; and

a transmission controller configured to transmit voice data retrieved by the retrieval controller to the second one of the portable terminal apparatuses through the network.

8. A recording medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for operating a portable terminal apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a voice data base apparatus for storing and retrieving voice data, said program comprising:

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to create a frame in response to a storage instruction from a user of the portable terminal apparatus and to send the frame to the voice data base apparatus, said frame including voice data input from a voice input device, an identification code of the portable terminal apparatus, and a storage command for causing the voice data base apparatus to store the input voice data with the identification code;

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to send the identification code and a retrieval command to the voice data base apparatus in response to a retrieval instruction from the user of the portable terminal apparatus, said retrieval command causing the voice data base apparatus to retrieve desired voice data based on the identification code; and

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to receive the voice data retrieved by the voice data base apparatus and to output the received voice data through an voice output device.

9. A recording medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for operating a portable terminal apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a voice data base apparatus for storing and retrieving voice data, said program comprising:

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to create a frame in response to a storage instruction from a user of the portable terminal apparatus and to send the frame to the voice data base apparatus, said frame including voice data input from a voice input device, a keyword of the input voice data, and a storage command for causing the voice data base apparatus to store the input voice data with the keyword;

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to send a desired keyword and a retrieval command to the voice data base apparatus in response to a retrieval instruction from the user of the portable terminal apparatus, said retrieval command causing the voice data base apparatus to retrieve desired voice data based on the desired key word; and

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to receive the voice data retrieved by the voice data base apparatus and to output the received voice data through an voice output device.

10. A recording medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for operating a portable terminal apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a voice data base apparatus for storing and retrieving voice data, said program comprising:

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to store in a memory thereof a predetermined amount of voice data input by a voice input device;

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to create a frame including the voice data stored in the memory and a storage command for causing the voice data base apparatus to store said voice data every time the memory stores the predetermined amount, and to send the frame to the voice data base apparatus;

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to send a retrieval command to the voice data base apparatus in response to a retrieval instruction from a user of the portable terminal apparatus, said retrieval command causing the voice data base apparatus to retrieve desired voice data corresponding to the portable terminal apparatus; and

program code means for causing the portable terminal apparatus to receive the voice data retrieved by the voice data base apparatus and to output the received voice data through an voice output device.

11. A recording medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for operating a voice data base apparatus adapted to be connected through a network to a plurality of portable terminal apparatuses which are each configured to issue a storage command, a retrieval command, voice data, a keyword of the voice data, and an identification code, said program comprising:

program code means for causing the voice data base apparatus to, responsive to receipt of a storage command from a first one of the portable terminal apparatuses, store voice data and a keyword of the voice data received from the first one of the portable terminal apparatuses along with the identification code of the first one of the portable terminal apparatuses;

program code means for causing the voice data base apparatus to, responsive to receipt of a retrieval command from a second one of the portable terminal apparatuses, retrieve desired voice data based on a desired keyword received from the second one of the portable terminal apparatuses and the identification code of the second one of the portable terminal apparatuses; and

program code means for causing the voice data base apparatus to transmit retrieved voice data to the second one of the portable terminal apparatuses through the network.