Dictation system employing computer-to-computer transmission of voice files controlled by hand microphone

• US 6,697,841 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Martin, Donald, Schneider, Frederic, Hipp, Betsy L., Sheffield, John, Antezzo, Vincent F., Dumschott, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Application Number:
  US09/099,501
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/90.02, 379/900, 379/1.02, 379/41, 379/75, 709/200, 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 704/235, 704/275, 704/201, 370/93.24, 345/752, 345/169, 345/184, 345/650, 369/25.01, 369/29.02, 700/66, 700/168, 700/180
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A dictation system is formed of two personal computers connected by an e-mail system. A hand microphone with control switches is provided at one personal computer and a foot pedal is provided at the other personal computer. The hand microphone is used to generate a dictation file at the first personal computer. In response to actuation of a control switch on the hand microphone, the dictation file is transmitted via the electronic mail system to the second personal computer. The foot pedal at the second personal computer is used to control audible reproduction of the dictation file for the purpose of transcription at the second personal computer. The resulting text file is sent via the electronic mail system from the second personal computer to the first personal computer.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dictation system, the system including a first personal computer, a hand microphone connected to the first personal computer for inputting a voice information file into a recording medium within the first personal computer, the hand microphone including a plurality of control switches to be operated by an author for controlling dictation functions, a second personal computer, an electronic mail system for transmitting electronic mail messages between the first and second personal computers, and means associated with the second personal computer for audibly playing voice information stored in the second personal computer, the method comprising the steps of:

using the hand microphone to create the voice information file;

storing the voice information file within the recording medium inside the first personal computer;

actuating one of the control switches of the hand microphone when the voice information file is complete;

in response to actuation of said one of the control switches, sending a control signal from the hand microphone to the first personal computer;

receiving the control signal in the first personal computer;

in response to the received control signal, creating an e-mail message, appending the voice information file to the e-mail message, and sending the e-mail message with the appended voice information file from the first personal computer to the second personal computer by means of the electronic mail system so that the voice information file is automatically dispatched to a transcriptionist after the control signal is sent from the hand microphone without further action by the author; and

storing the transmitted voice information file in the second personal computer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said e-mail message file includes addressee information automatically selected in response to said actuation of said hand microphone.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of deleting from the first personal computer the e-mail message file with the appended voice information file after said substep of sending the e-mail message file to the second personal computer.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

audibly reproducing the voice information file at the second personal computer; and

inputting into the second personal computer a text file which corresponds to the voice information file.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a headset is connected to the second personal computer, the headset including at least one speaker, and said audibly reproducing step includes playing an audio signal corresponding to the voice information file through the headset.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein a foot pedal is connected to the second personal computer, the foot pedal including a plurality of control switches adapted for actuation by the foot of a human operator, and said audibly reproducing step is controlled by said human operator by means of said foot pedal.

7. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of sending the text file from the second personal computer to the first personal computer via the electronic mail system.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying at the first personal computer alphanumeric characters corresponding to the text file.

9. A method of operating an electronic mail system, said system for transmitting e-mail messages from a first personal computer to a second personal computer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a hand microphone interfaced to the first personal computer for inputting a voice information file into a recording medium inside the first personal computer, the hand microphone including a plurality of control switches to be operated by an author for controlling dictation functions;

creating the voice information file from the hand microphone and storing the voice information file in the recording medium;

actuating one of the control switches of the hand microphone when the dictation file is complete; and

in response to actuation of said one of the control switches, sending a single control signal from the hand microphone to the first personal computer;

receiving said single control signal in the first personal computer;

creating an e-mail message, appending the voice information file to the e-mail message, and sending the e-mail message with the appended voice information file from the first personal computer to the second personal computer so that the dictation file appended to the e-mail message is automatically dispatched to a transcriptionist after sending said single control signal without further action by the author.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of creating and sending the e-mail message includes automatically selecting addressee information for the e-mail message in response to the actuation of said one of the control switches.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the e-mail message sent to the second computer includes voice information input into the first computer via the hand microphone.

12. A dictation system, comprising:

a first personal computer;

a hand microphone connected to said first personal computer and including a plurality of control switches to be operated by an author for controlling dictation functions;

said hand microphone also including means for issuing a control signal from the hand microphone to the first personal computer in response to actuation of one of the control switches;

a second personal computer connected to the first personal computer by an electronic mail system;

said first personal computer including means for storing a voice information file from said hand microphone, said voice information file representative of voice signals generated by said hand microphone;

said first personal computer also including means, for creating an e-mail message, appending the voice information file to the e-mail message, and sending the email with said appended voice information file to the second personal computer via said electronic mail system so that the voice information file is automatically dispatched to a transcriptionist after sending said single control signal without further action by the author; and

said second personal computer having associated therewith reproduction means for audibly reproducing the voice information file sent to said second personal computer from said first personal computer.

13. A dictation system according to claim 12, wherein said reproduction means includes a headset connected to said second personal computer;

the dictation system further comprising a foot pedal connected to said second personal computer for controlling reproduction of the voice information file at said second personal computer.

14. A dictation system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third personal computer connected to said first personal computer by said electronic mail system; and

a headset and foot pedal connected to said third personal computer.

15. A dictation system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a fourth personal computer connected to the second and third personal computers by said electronic mail system; and

a second hand microphone connected to said fourth personal computer and including a plurality of control switches;

said fourth personal computer including means for storing a voice information file representative of voice signals generated by said second hand microphone;

said fourth personal computer also including means for responding to actuation of one of the control switches of said second hand microphone by transmitting said voice information file in said fourth personal computer to a selected one of said second and third personal computers via said electronic mail system.

16. A dictation system, comprising:

a first personal computer;

a hand microphone connected to said first personal computer and including a plurality of control switches to be operated by an author for controlling dictation functions;

said hand microphone also including means for issuing a control signal from the hand microphone to the first personal computer in response to actuation of one of the control switches;

a second personal computer connected to the first personal computer by an electronic mail system;

said first personal computer including means for storing a voice information file from said hand microphone, said voice information file representative of voice signals generated by said hand microphone;

in response to said control signal, said first personal computer including means for creating an e-mail message, appending the voice information file to the e-mail message, and sending the email message with said appended voice information file to the second personal computer via said electronic mail system so that the voice information file is automatically dispatched to a transcriptionist after sending said single control signal without further action by the author; and

said second personal computer having associated therewith reproduction means for audibly reproducing the voice information file sent to said second personal computer from said first personal computer.