Method and system for embedding voice notes

• US 7,337,390 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• 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): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): DiStefano; Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US10/791,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 715/512
• US Class Current: 715/230
• 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 in a computing system for modifying a user interface displayed on a display device, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from the computing device to modify the user interface of a first currently running application;

in response to receiving the indication, activating a second application, separate from the first currently running application, wherein the second application modifies the user interface of the first currently running application by;

displaying an identification block identifying the first currently running application;

displaying a record toolbar;

displaying a notepad; and

displaying a note tab, wherein the record toolbar, the notepad, and the note tab are all displayed within the user interface of the first currently running application.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a record toolbar includes displaying a record button, a stop button, a play button, a fast forward button, and a rewind button.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of displaying a record toolbar further includes displaying a status bar indicating a relative length of a recording.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the note pad includes displaying both text data and an icon referring to an embedded voice note.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a note tab includes displaying the note tab to provide an indication to a user that the user is in a record portion of the first currently running application.

6. A display device having rendered thereon a user interface for displaying an embedded voice note, wherein the user interface comprises:

a user interface displayed by a first currently running application, wherein the user interface is modified via a second application that is separate from the first currently running application, to display;

an identification block;

a record tool bar;

a note pad defining an area in which both text data and an icon are positioned, wherein the icon refers to an embedded voice note, and wherein the voice note is playable by selecting the icon; and

a note tab.

7. A display device according to claim 6, wherein the identification block includes information regarding the first currently running application.

8. A display device according to claim 6, wherein the record tool bar includes a record button, a stop button, a play button, a fast forward button, and a rewind button.

9. A display device according to claim 8, wherein the record toolbar further includes a status bar indicating a relative length of a recording.

10. A display device according to claim 6, wherein the note tab includes an indication to a user that the user is in a record portion of the first currently running application.