Method and system for embedding voice notes

• US 6,720,980 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• 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, Parks, Michael Jay, Paulson, Kevin Phillip, Lui, Charlton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thomas T.
• Application Number:
  US09/516,572
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 345/727, 345/753, 345/752, 345/716, 345/728, 345/717, 345/977, 345/978, 345/704, 345/762
• US Class Current: 715/728
• 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; and

if the software application is not voice-aware, triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice data;

wherein before said act of detecting if a software application is voice-aware, detecting whether the record event was a power-up event;

if the event was a power-up event, triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice data; and

if the event was not a power-up event detecting if a software application currently running on the computing system is voice-aware.

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 detecting the record event, recording voice data.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising:

after said act of recording, buffering voice data.

7. A method according to claim 5 further comprising:

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

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

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

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

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:

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

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

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

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising:

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

13. 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 is 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; and

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

wherein before said act of detecting if a software application is voice-aware, detecting whether the activating of a record button was a power-up event;

if the event was a power-up event, triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice note; and

if the event was not a power-up event detecting if a software application currently active on the computing system is voice-aware.

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

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

16. A computer process according to claim 13 wherein detecting if a software application comprises detecting if a top-level software application is voice-aware.

17. A computer process according to claim 13 further comprising:

after said act of detecting the user, activating the record button recording voice data.

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

after said act of recording, buffering the voice data.

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

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

20. A computer process according to claim 13 wherein said act of embedding comprises providing an indication to the user that the voice note is embedded.

21. A computer process according to claim 13 further comprising:

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

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

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

23. A computer process according to claim 13 further comprising:

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

24. A computer process according to claim 23 further comprising:

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

25. 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, if the software application is voice-aware; and

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

a power-up module that detects whether the record event was a power-up event;

if the event was a power-up event, the power-up module triggers a voice note application to record and store the voice data.

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

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

28. A system according to claim 25 wherein the top-level module detects if a top-level software application is voice-aware.

29. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

a record module that records voice data.

30. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

a buffer module that buffers voice data.

31. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

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

32. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

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

33. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

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

34. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

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

35. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

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

36. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

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