Method and system for embedding voice notes

• US 7,305,343 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blum, Jeff, Lui, Charlton E., Parks, Michael Jay, Paulson, Kevin Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): ARMSTRONG, ANGELA A
• Application Number:
  US10/792,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 704/272, 704/270
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/32 on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier

Abstract

A method of embedding voice data in a computing system includes detecting a record event and detecting if a software application currently running on the computing system is voice-aware. The method also includes embedding the voice data within associated data in the software application, if the software application is voice-aware. If the software application is not voice-aware, the method also includes triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice data. A method in a computing system for modifying a user interface displayed on a display device includes receiving an indication from the computing device to modify the user interface. The method further includes displaying an identification block, a record toolbar, a note pad, and a note tab.

Claims

1. A method of embedding voice data in a computing system, the method comprising:

detecting a record event;

detecting if a software application currently running on the computing system is voice-aware;

if the software application is voice-aware, embedding the voice data within associated data in the software application stored on a tangible computer-readable media;

if the application is not voice-aware, triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice data on the computer-readable media; and

recording voice data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein detecting a record event comprises detecting activation of a hardware record button.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein detecting a record event comprises detecting activation of a software record button.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein detecting if a software application comprises detecting if a top-level software application is voice-aware.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

after said act of recording, buffering voice data.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

after said act of recording voice data, detecting whether a memory size of the voice data exceeds a maximum memory size.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said act of embedding comprises providing an indication to the user that a voice note is embedded.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

after said act of embedding, locking a connection to the software application.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising:

after said act of locking, communicating a status to the software application.

10. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

before said act of embedding, receiving recording specifications from the software application.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising:

after said act of receiving recording specifications, modifying a user interface of the software application.

12. A computer program product readable by a computing system and encoding instructions for a computer process for embedding a voice note in a computing system, the computer process comprising:

detecting a user activating a record button;

detecting if a software application currently active on the computing system is voice-aware;

if the software application is voice-aware, embedding the voice note within associated data in the software application stored on a tangible computer-readable media;

if the application is not voice-aware, triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice note on the computer-readable media; and

recording voice data.

13. A computer process according to claim 12 wherein detecting a user comprises detecting activation of a hardware record button.

14. A computer process according to claim 12 wherein detecting a user comprises detecting activation of a software record button.

15. A computer process according to claim 12 wherein detecting if a software application comprises detecting if a top-level software application is voice-aware.

16. A computer process according to claim 12 further comprising:

after said act of recording, buffering the voice data.

17. A computer process according to claim 12 further comprising:

after said act of recording voice data, detecting whether a memory size of the voice data exceeds a maximum memory size.

18. A computer process according to claim 12 wherein said act of embedding comprises providing an indication to the user that the voice note is embedded.

19. A computer process according to claim 12 further comprising:

after said act of embedding, locking a connection to the software application.

20. A computer process according to claim 19 further comprising:

after said act of locking, communicating a status to the software application.

21. A computer process according to claim 12 further comprising:

before said act of embedding, receiving recording specifications from the software application.

22. A computer process according to claim 21 further comprising:

after said act of receiving recording specifications, modifying a user interface of the software application.

23. A system for embedding voice data in a computing system, the system comprising:

a detect module that detects a record event;

a top-level module that detects if a software application currently running on the computing system is voice-aware;

an embed module that embeds the voice data within associated data in the software application stored on a tangible computer-readable media, if the software application is voice-aware;

a trigger module that triggers a voice note application to record and store the voice data on the computer-readable media, if the application is not voice-aware; and

a record module that records voice data.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein the detect module detects activation of a hardware record button.

25. A system according to claim 23 wherein the detect module detects activation of a software record button.

26. A system according to claim 23 wherein the top-level module detects if a top-level software application is voice-aware.

27. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a buffer module that buffers voice data.

28. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a size module that detects whether a memory size of the voice data exceeds a maximum memory size.

29. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

an icon module that provides an indication to the user that a voice note is embedded.

30. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a lock module that locks a connection to the software application.

31. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a communication module that communicates a status to the software application.

32. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a specifications module that receives recording specifications from the software application.

33. A system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a modify module that modifies a user interface of the software application.