Teleconference recording and playback system and associated method

• US 6,298,129 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Oakes, Randall S., Culver, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/038,296
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 379/206, 379/93.21, 348/14.06, 348/14.08, 348/14.09
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A teleconference recording and marking system for use by a plurality of teleconference participants includes a plurality of telephones with each having a mechanism for transmitting a voice signal and a marking signal. A mechanism is provided for establishing a communications link between the telephones. Another mechanism is used for recording the audible voice signals and marking signals transmitted from the telephones in a digital data stream. Also included is a mechanism for determining a plurality of time offsets with each time offset measured from a known location in the data stream to each marking signal. A storage mechanism is included for storing the data stream and time offsets. Lastly, a player mechanism is provided for playing the data stream starting at any one of the time offsets. The system combines the use of telecommunication and computer networks in order to allow teleconferences to be recorded and marked and later retrieved and played.

Claims

1. A teleconference recording and marking system for use by a plurality of teleconference participants comprising:

means for establishing a communications link between a plurality of telephones each capable of transmitting marking signals in addition to audible voice signals;

means for recording the audible voice signals and the marking signals transmitted from the telephones in a digital data stream;

means for determining a plurality of time offsets with each measured from a known location in the data stream to each marking signal; and

means for storing the data stream and time offsets.

2. A teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of telephones each having means for transmitting a voice signal and a plurality of marking signals.

3. A teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for playing the data stream starting at any one of the time offsets.

4. A teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for replacing each marking signal within the digital data stream with a shorter time tag.

5. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of telephones each having means for transmitting a voice signal and a plurality of marking signals and wherein the marking signals are audible dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

6. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of telephones each having means for transmitting a voice signal and a plurality of marking signals and wherein the telephones include those of a wireline type.

7. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of telephones each having means for transmitting a voice signal and a plurality of marking signals and wherein the telephones include those of a wireless type.

8. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for storing stores the digital data stream in an audio file.

9. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for storing stores the time offsets in a web page source document.

10. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the means for storing stores the digital data stream in an audio file; and

wherein the means for playing includes an audio client application for playing the audio file starting at any one of the time offsets.

11. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the means for storing stores the digital data stream in an audio file;

wherein the means for playing includes an audio client application for playing the audio file starting at any one of the time offsets and an audio server application for supplying the audio file to the audio client application.

12. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the means for storing stores the time offsets in a web page source document; and

wherein the means for playing further comprises a web browser client application with a user interface for displaying the web page source document.

13. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the means for storing stores the time offsets in a web page source document; and

wherein the means for playing further comprises a web browser client application having a user interface for displaying the web page source document and a web server application for supplying the web page source document to the web browser client application.

14. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the communications link is established through the use of at least one switch.

15. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a multimedia computer having:

means for activating a timer application upon command of one of the participants at the start of a teleconference;

means for generating a plurality of keying signals with generated each upon command of one of the participants during the teleconference;

means for determining a plurality of local time offsets with each determined from the activation of the timer application to the generation each keying signal;

means for storing the local time offset; and

means for playing the data stream starting at any one of the local time offsets.

23. A method for recording and marking a teleconference as recited in claim 15 further comprising:

replacing each marking signal within the digital data stream with a shorter time tag.

16. A method for recording and marking a teleconference comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of telephones each having means for transmitting an audible voice signal and a manually-activated marking signal;

establishing a communications link between the telephones;

recording the audible voice signals and marking signals transmitted from the telephones in a digital data stream;

determining a time offset from a known location in the data stream to each marking signal; and

storing the data stream and time offsets.

17. The method for recording and marking a teleconference as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising the step of playing the data stream starting at any one of the time offsets.

18. The method for recording and marking a teleconference as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising the steps of:

providing a multimedia computer;

activating a timer application on the computer upon command at the start of a teleconference;

generating a plurality of keying signals, each generated by the computer upon manual command during the teleconference;

determining a local time offset on the computer as measured from the activation of the timer application to receipt of each keying signal;

storing the local time offsets on the computer; and

playing the data stream on the computer starting at any one of the local time offsets.

19. A teleconference recording and marking system for use by a plurality of teleconference participants for allowing a participant to set an identifying time tag when a teleconference is being recorded and to later play back a portion of this recorded teleconference beginning at the time tag comprising:

a plurality of touch tone telephones each having means for transmitting an audible voice signal and a plurality of manually-activated audible dual tone multi-frequency marking signals;

means for establishing a communications link between the telephones;

means for recording the audible voice signals and marking signals transmitted from the telephones in a digital data stream;

means for replacing each marking signal within the data stream with a shorter time tag;

means for determining a time offset measured from the beginning of the data stream to each time tag;

means for storing the data stream in an audio file and the time offsets in a web page source document; and

means for playing the data stream contained in the audio file starting at any one of the time offsets contained in the web page source document, wherein the means for playing further comprises a web browser client application having a user interface for displaying the web page source document, a web server application for supplying the web page source document to the web browser client application, an audio client application for playing the audio file starting at any one of the time offsets when activated by one of the participants through the web page source document, and an audio server application for supplying the audio file to the audio client application.

20. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the audio client application is activated by one of the participants through one of a plurality of hypertext links included on the web page source document.

21. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 19:

wherein the audio client application includes a user interface that is displayed by the web browser client; and

wherein the user interface of the audio client application includes means for manually controlling play of the audio file beginning at any one of the time offsets.

22. The teleconference recording and marking system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the time offsets are displayed on the user interface of the web browser client application.