System and method for data recording and playback

• US 20020035616A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nice Systems Incorporated (Nice Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Trong, Diamond, David A., Ni, Phil Min, Richter, John E., Glowny, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5175 Call or contact centers supervision arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for playing back data segments stored in one or more locations and managed by one or more playback servers. In a preferred embodiment the system and method receive data describing data segments to be played back; transmit notifications to the playback servers to prepare for playback; and transmit playback requests to the playback servers. The system and method are also capable of playing back the segments in a specified order and such that gaps between the segments are minimized. Additionally, a graphical display can be provided to display the status of the segments being played back.

Claims

1. A method of playing back data segments stored in one or more locations accessible by one or more playback servers, the method comprising

(a) identifying data segments to be played back and an order in which the identified segments are to be played back;

(b) transmitting notifications to playback servers associated with the identified data segments to prepare for playback; and

(c) playing back the identified segments in the identified order upon receipt of a request for playback.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying further comprises identifying the location of data segments that are to be played back.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying further comprises identifying the duration of each data segment and the playback server that is responsible for its playback.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying further comprises identifying playback destinations for the identified data segments.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of using the received data describing the duration of each data segment to determine when to transmit playback requests to the playback servers, and timing the requests so as to minimize any gaps between the segments when they are played back.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the playback requests transmitted to the playback servers direct the playback servers to send the played back data segments to the identified destination.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data segments comprise audio data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the data segments comprise audiovisual data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data segments comprise recorded telephone conversations.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a graphical representation of the playback status of the data segments being played back.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the notifications transmitted to the playback servers are canceled and replaced by new notifications whenever data is received describing a request to begin playing a different portion of the call or a different call.

13. The program of claim 12 further comprising software for identifying the location of data segments that are to be played back.

14. The program of claim 12 further comprising software for identifying the duration of each data segment and the playback server that is responsible for its playback.

15. The program of claim 14 further comprising software for identifying playback destinations for the identified data segments.

16. The program of claim 14 further comprising software for using the received data describing the duration of each data segment to determine when to transmit playback requests to the playback servers, and timing the requests so as to minimize any gaps between the segments when they are played back.

17. The program of claim 15 wherein the playback requests transmitted to the playback servers direct the playback servers to send the played back data segments to the identified destination.

18. The program of claim 17 wherein the data segments comprise audio data.

19. The program of claim 18 wherein the data segments comprise audiovisual data.

20. The program of claim 12 wherein the data segments comprise recorded telephone conversations.

21. The program of claim 12 further comprising software for displaying a graphical representation of the playback status of the data segments being played back.

22. The program of claim 12 wherein the notifications transmitted to the playback servers are canceled and replaced by new notifications whenever data is received describing a request to begin playing a different portion of the call or a different call.

24. The article of claim 23 wherein the program further comprises software for identifying the location of data segments that are to be played back.

25. The article of claim 24 wherein the program further comprises software for identifying the duration of each data segment and the playback server that is responsible for its playback.

26. The article of claim 25 wherein the program further comprises software for identifying playback destinations for the identified data segments.

27. The article of claim 25 wherein the program further comprises software for using the received data describing the duration of each data segment to determine when to transmit playback requests to the playback servers, and timing the requests so as to minimize any gaps between the segments when they are played back.

28. The article of claim 26 wherein the playback requests transmitted to the playback servers direct the playback servers to send the played back data segments to the destination described in said received data.

29. The article of claim 28 wherein the data segments are audio data.

30. The article of claim 29 wherein the data segments comprise audiovisual data.

31. The article of claim 23 wherein the data segments comprise recorded telephone conversations.

32. The article of claim 28 wherein the program further comprises software for displaying a graphical representation of the playback status of the data segments being played back.

33. The article of claim 23 wherein the notifications transmitted to the playback servers are canceled and replaced by new notifications whenever data is received describing a request to begin playing a different portion of the call or a different call.

12. A computer program for playing back data segments stored in one or more locations and managed by one or more playback servers comprising

(a) software for identifying data segments to be played back and an order in which the identified segments are to be played back;

(b) software for transmitting notifications to playback servers associated with the identified data segments to prepare for playback; and

(c) software for playing back the identified segments in the identified order upon receipt of a request for playback.

23. An article of manufacture storing a computer program for playing back data segments stored in one or more locations and managed by one or more playback servers comprising

(a) software for identifying data segments to be played back and an order in which the identified segments are to be played back;

(b) software for transmitting notifications to playback servers associated with the identified data segments to prepare for playback; and

(c) software for playing back the identified segments in the identified order upon receipt of a request for playback.