Voice messaging system having user-selectable data compression modes

• US 5,881,104 A
• Filed: 03/25/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akahane, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maddox, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/622,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240, 375/219, 379/67, 379/68, 379/88, 379/89, 379/69, 379/67.1, 379/88.08, 379/88.1, 379/88.12
• US Class Current: 375/240
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/087 using mixed excitation models, e.g. MELP, MBE, split band LPC or HVXC
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/66 for reducing bandwidth of signals; for improving efficiency of transmission H04B1/68 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

There is provided a portable packet switched wireless voice messaging device capable of transmitting and receiving a digital voice signal. The device includes a microphone for inputting a voice message, an encoder for encoding the voice message, a memory for storing the encoded message, a data compressor with variable compression ratio for compressing the encoded message in accordance with a data compression mode selected by the user and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the compressed data with information indicating the mode selected. The device also includes a receiving circuit for receiving an incoming message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side, a detector for detecting the compression mode used in the transmitting side, a data decompressor for decompressing the incoming message data in accordance with the detected mode, a memory for storing the decompressed data, a decoder for decoding the decompressed data and a speaker for reproducing a voice message in accordance with the decoded voice message signal provided by the decoder. The user can select a data compression mode depending upon the importance of his voice message to be transmitted.

Claims

1. A voice messaging transmitter comprising:

input means operable by a user for inputting a voice message;

first data compression means for compressing said voice message and producing a first compressed message data;

memory means for storing said first compressed message data provided by said first data compression means;

mode selection means operable by the user for selecting one of data compression modes each having a different compression ratio and generating a mode signal indicating a mode selected by the user;

transmission start means operable by the user for generating a transmission start signal;

second data compression means responsive to said mode signal and said transmission start signal for compressing said first compressed message data read from said memory means and producing a second compressed data in accordance with said mode; and

transmitting means for transmitting said second compressed data and said mode signal.

2. The voice messaging transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising packet data generating means for forming said second compressed data and said mode signal into a packet data, said transmitting means transmitting said packet data.

3. The voice messaging transmitter according to claim 2, further comprising destination setting means operable by the user for setting a destination to which said packet data is delivered, said packet data generating means further forming information of said destination into said packet data.

4. The voice messaging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein said first data compression means compresses said voice message by Multi Band Excitation encoding method.

5. The voice messaging transmitter according to claim 4 wherein said first data compression means provides as said first compressed message data Linear Spectrum Pair information, Pitch information, Voiced/Unvoiced information and Spectrum power information.

6. A portable voice messaging transmitter comprising:

a microphone for inputting a voice message, a first data compressor for compressing said voice message inputted from said microphone and providing speech parameters corresponding to said voice message;

a memory for storing said speech parameters provided by said first data compressor;

a first key operable by a user for selecting one of compression modes each having a different data compression ratio and generating a mode signal indicating a mode selected by the user;

a second key operable by the user for generating a transmission start signal;

a second data compressor responsive to said mode signal and said transmission start signal, for compressing said speech parameters read from said memory and producing a compressed data in accordance with said mode selected by the user operating said first key; and

a transmitting circuit for transmitting said compressed data and said mode signal.

7. The portable voice messaging transmitter according to claim 6, further comprising a packet data generator for forming said compressed data and said mode signal into a packet data, said transmitting circuit transmitting said packet data.

8. The portable voice messaging transmitter according to claim 7, further comprising a destination key operable by the user for setting a destination to which said voice message is transmitted, said packet data generator further forming information of said destination into said packet data.

9. The portable voice messaging transmitter according to claim 8, wherein said first data compressor compresses said voice message by Multi Band Excitation encoding method.

10. The portable voice messaging transmitter according to claim 9 wherein said first data compressor provides as said speech parameters Linear Spectrum Pair information, Pitch information, Voiced/Unvoiced information and Spectrum power information.

11. A voice messaging receiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving a compressed message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side in accordance with one of data compression modes each having a different compression ratio and receiving a mode signal indicating a mode used in said transmitting side;

detecting means for detecting said mode based upon said mode signal received by said receiving means;

memory means for storing said compressed message data provided by said receiving means;

reproduction start means operable by a user for generating a reproduction start command;

first data decompressing means responsive to said reproduction start command, for decompressing said compressed message data read from said memory means in accordance with said mode detected by said detecting means and for producing a first decompressed data;

second decompressing means for decompressing said first decompressed data provided by said first decompressing means and providing a second decompressed data as a voice message signal; and

speaker means for reproducing a voice message in accordance with said voice message signal provided by said second decompressing means.

12. The voice messaging receiver according to claim 11, wherein said compressed message data has been compressed by Multi Band Excitation encoding method in said transmitting side and said second decompressing means decompresses said first decompressed data by Multi Band Excitation decoding method.

13. The voice messaging receiver according to claim 12, wherein said compressed message data includes Linear Spectrum Pair information, Pitch information, Voiced/Unvoiced information and Spectrum Power information.

14. A voice messaging receiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving a compressed message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side in accordance with one of data compression modes each having a different compression ratio and receiving a mode signal indicating a mode used in said transmitting side;

detecting means for detecting said mode based upon said mode signal received by said receiving means;

first data decompressing means for decompressing said compressed message data in accordance with said mode detected by said detecting means and producing a first decompressed data;

memory means for storing said first decompressed data provided by said first data decompressing means;

reproduction start means operable by a user for generating a reproduction start command;

second data decompressing means responsive to said reproduction start command, for decompressing said first decompressed data read from said memory means and providing second decompressed data as a voice message signal; and

speaker means for reproducing a voice message in accordance with said voice message signal provided by said second data decompressing means.

15. The voice messaging receiver according to claim 14, wherein said compressed message data has been compressed by Multi Band Excitation encoding method in said transmitting side and said second data decompressing means decompresses said first decompressed data by Multi Band Excitation decoding method.

16. The voice messaging receiver according to claim 15, wherein said compressed message data includes Linear Spectrum Pair information, Pitch information, Voiced/Unvoiced information and Spectrum Power information.

17. A portable voice messaging receiver comprising:

a receiving circuit for receiving a compressed message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side in accordance with one of data compression modes each having a different compression ratio and receiving a mode signal indicating a mode used in said transmitting side;

a detector for detecting said mode based upon said mode signal received by said receiving circuit;

a memory for storing said compressed message data provided by said receiving circuit;

a playback key operable by a user for generating a reproduction start signal;

a first data decompressor responsive to said reproduction start signal, for decompressing said compressed message data read from said memory in accordance with said mode detected by said detector and producing a first decompressed data;

a second data decompressor for decompressing said first decompressed data provided by said data decompressor and providing second decompressed data as a voice message signal; and

a speaker for reproducing a voice message in accordance with said voice message signal provided by said second data decompressor.

18. The portable voice messaging receiver according to claim 17, wherein said compressed message data has been compressed by Multi Band Excitation encoding method in said transmitting side and said second data decompressor decompresses said first decompressed data by Multi Band Excitation decoding method.

19. The portable voice messaging receiver according to claim 17, further comprising an indicator for indicating that a new incoming voice message is received.

20. A portable voice messaging receiver comprising:

a receiving circuit for receiving a compressed message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side in accordance with one of data compression modes each having a different compression ratio and receiving a mode signal indicating a mode used in said transmitting side;

a detector for detecting said mode based upon said mode signal received by said receiving circuit;

a first data decompressor for decompressing said compressed message data in accordance with said mode detected by said detector and producing a first decompressed data;

a memory for storing said first decompressed data provided by said first data decompressor;

a playback key operable by a user for generating a reproduction start signal;

a second data decompressor responsive to said reproduction start signal for decompressing said first decompressed data read from said memory and providing second decompressed data as a voice message signal; and

a speaker for reproducing a voice message in accordance with said voice message signal provided by said second data decompressor.

21. The portable voice messaging receiver according to claim 20, wherein said compressed message data has been compressed by Multi Band Excitation encoding method in said transmitting side and said second data decompressor decompresses said first decompressed data by Multi Band Excitation decoding method.

22. The portable voice messaging receiver according to claim 20, further comprising an indicator for indicating that a new incoming voice message is received.

23. A portable wireless voice messaging device comprising:

a microphone for inputting an outgoing voice message,

a first data compressor for compressing said outgoing voice message inputted from said microphone and providing speech parameters corresponding to said voice message;

a first memory for storing said speech parameters provided by said first data compressor;

a first key operable by a user for selecting one of compression modes each having a different data compression ratio and generating a first mode signal indicating a first mode selected by the user;

a second key operable by the user for generating a transmission start signal;

a second data compressor responsive to said first mode signal and said transmission start signal, for compressing said speech parameters read from said first memory and producing a compressed data in accordance with said first mode selected by the user operating said first key;

a transmitting circuit for transmitting said compressed data and said mode signal;

a receiving circuit for receiving an incoming voice message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side in accordance with one of said data compression modes and receiving a second mode signal indicating a second mode used in said transmitting side;

a detector for detecting said second mode based upon said second mode signal received by said receiving circuit;

a first data decompressor for decompressing said incoming voice message data in accordance with said second mode detected by said detector and producing a first decompressed data;

a second memory for storing said first decompressed data provided by said first data decompressor;

a third key operable by a user for generating a reproduction start signal;

a second data decompressor responsive to said reproduction start signal for decompressing said first decompressed data read from said second memory and providing a second decompressed data as a voice message signal; and

a speaker for reproducing a incoming voice message in accordance with said voice message signal provided by said second data decompressor.