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`
`US005724410A
`
`‘
`
`I Umted States Patent [191
`Parvulescu et a].
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,724,410
`Mar. 3, 1998
`
`[54] Tw0.wAY VOICE MESSAGING TERMINAL
`HAVING A SPEECH T0 TEXT CONVERTER
`
`[75] Inventors: Adrian Parvulescu. Fish’s Eddy. N.Y.;
`Andrew Todd Zidel. Hawthorne. NJ.
`
`[73] Assignees: Sony Corporation. Tokyo. Japan; Sony
`Electronics Inc. Park Ridge. NJ.
`
`[21] APPL No’: 573,624
`[22] Filed
`D 18 1995
`:
`cc.
`’
`6
`Cl- ............................ "
`
`[5
`
`GIOL 3/00
`[52] U.S. Cl. ................... .. 379/88; 379/93.09; 379193.15;
`340/313; 340/825.44; 358/402; 39512.67;
`395/279
`[58] Field of Search ............................. .. 379152. 56.1. 57.
`379/58. 67. 87. 88. 89. 90.01. 93.01. 93.05.
`93.09. 93.15. 93.17. 93.24. 100.01. 100.06.
`110
`415050
`'38‘ 39‘ ‘340/825
`82’5 15 31‘l‘1 31'3:
`‘
`3’95/2 9 6‘_ 30 9 ' ‘I
`1’
`'7 ‘
`' 7’
`'
`‘ D G‘
`
`[56]
`
`,
`Refemnces clued
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,716,848
`
`2/1973 Schonholtz et a1. ............. .. 340/82544
`‘1311:2621; - - - - » -
`- - - I - -
`4644351 211987 Zabmky et a]. _
`‘ 340/825“
`4 769 642 9,1988 Davis a al
`340/825 44
`’
`’
`' """"""" "
`'
`"""
`340/32544
`340182544
`395/204
`340/82544
`. . . . . . .. 379/88
`
`,
`
`a
`
`e
`
`_
`
`49491035 8/1990 Fisch et a].
`4,965,569 10/1990 Bennett et a].
`5,003,601
`3/1991 Watad et a1.
`5,142,279
`8/1992 Jasinski et a1.
`5,l46,488
`9/1992
`et al. . . . . .
`g‘sch 5"
`"" " 395/143
`535532 1011994 13:11:14.1".-.
`______ _' 7 ,38
`’
`’
`1,1 5 shim
`aL "
`340/8254: x
`5122139153
`511335 11mm a1. ..
`5,455,579 10/1995 Bennett et al. ................ .. 341/110
`5,459,458 1011995 Richardson et a]. ............. .. 340/82552
`
`5,479,411 12/1995 Klein .................................. .. 370/1101
`1493.609 2/1996 wmmh In at 31'
`5,493,692 2/1996 Theirner et a]. .
`Rhee“ 1 et 31'
`5 5481739 3/1996 Nakmai; """"" “
`5,588,009 12/1996 Will ............ ..
`5,608,786
`3/1997 Gordon ...... ..
`5,627,528
`5/1997 Kuznjckl .... ..
`5,630,060
`5/1997 Tang et a1. ..
`5,644,627
`7/1997 Seg et al
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`1995 Radio Shack Catalog-p. 25 Oct. 1995.
`“Vang-loaded pa'gal's~ low prices crcate buyer’s markct"_
`Telecom Sources, Oct. 1995.
`.
`.
`.
`Tim’? Exam‘i’er-Knsm 161°
`SSlSIanl‘ Exarmner-SCOtt L. Weaver
`Attorney Agent, or Firm-Lise A. Rode. Esq.; Jerry A.
`Miner
`
`a1
`
`.
`
`............................. ..
`
`379/67
`
`.
`
`.
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A two-way voice messaging terminal for communicating
`with a receiving terminal which may or may not be capable
`of reproducing a voice message transmitted from the voice
`messaging terminal. A voice message is digitally encoded
`and stored in a memory. A receiving terminal selection unit
`connected to the ?rst memory preferably allows for the
`selection of the receiving terminal(s) to which the voice
`message is to be transmitted. The receiving terminal selec
`tion unit then receives the stored. digitally encoded voice
`message and determines whether the selected receiving
`terrmnal(s) 1s(are.).capable _of reproducing the voice mes
`sage. If the receiving terrmnal(s) can reproduce the voice
`message. the voice message is transmitted to the selected
`receiving terminal(s). Ifthe terminal(s) is(are) not capable of
`reprggqcillg the voic? mcssflge th? vlilicc message
`Col}
`vert
`into a text message in a speec -t(>text conv er in
`the voice messaging terminal and then transmitted to the
`selected receiving terminal(s). The voice messaging termi
`Hal may also haw: a tcxt_t0_speech Convener to convert a
`response text message into a synthesized voice message. the
`resp‘fnzits’itmessage bdnglsemfmm ‘ha selectedrqmixigg
`terrmn s in response to e voice message transmitte y
`the voic? mss?gi?g w?ninal
`
`.
`
`.
`
`_
`
`40 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`E
`
`52
`
`42
`
`48
`[50
`/ 49
`PROTOCOL -° e-TRANSMITTER
`‘ ENCODEH
`
`D'SPLAY
`
`.._ DISPLAY
`INTERFACE
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`46
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`CONTROLLER
`r40
`HECElVIliG/qis
`SPEECH TO
`TERMINAL _. TEXT
`‘ SELES‘IQON
`CONVERTER
`
`28
`
`MEMORY 8
`
`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 3, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`5,724,410
`
`meOQZm
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`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 2
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`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 2
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 3, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,724,410
`
`RECEIVER
`
`PROTOCOLDECODER
`
`CE
`”J
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`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 3
`
`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Pa‘tent
`
`Mar. 3, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,724,410
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`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 3, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`5,724,410
`
`I RECEIVE VOICE MESSAGE
`AT MICROPOHONE
`
`I
`
`CONVERT VOICE MESSAGE
`TO ANALOG SIGNAL AT MICROPHONE
`If
`DIGITIZE ANALOG SIGNAL INTO CODED DIGITAL SIGNAL
`
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`ISTORE CODED DIGITAL SIGNAL IN MEMORY ks“;
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`READ OUT CODED
`DIGITAL SIGNAL FROM
`MEMORY TO CODEC
`I /$70
`FIEPFIODUCE VOICE
`MESSAGE AT SPEAKER
`_________-I
`
`CONVERT CODED DIGITAL SIGNAL
`TO TEXT MESSAGE AND DISPLAY
`
`$120
`I ENCODE MESSAGE WITH PROTOCOL I
`I
`H8130
`WRANsII/IIT MESSACEJ
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 3, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,724,410
`
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`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 6
`
`

`

`1
`TWO-WAY VOICE MESSAGING TERMINAL
`HAVING A SPEECH TO TEXT CONVERTER
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to two-way messaging systems.
`More particularly. it relates to a voice messaging terminal
`which may communicate with a receiving terminal inca
`pable of reproducing voice messages by converting the
`voice message to a text message before transmission to such
`receiving terminal.
`2. General Background
`Messaging systems have become quite popular in the
`recent past. Paging devices. in particular. have become
`popular given their compact size. ease of use and relatively
`low cost of operation. Until recently. however. such com
`munications systems were one-way; that is. a pager could
`receive incoming messages. but could not respond to same.
`Currently. two-way messaging systems having limited
`capabilities have been introduced on a commercial basis.
`Such two-way messaging systems allow the receiving ter
`minal to respond to an incoming numeric or alphanumeric
`message by selecting and transmitting back to the transmit
`ting terminal. one of several predetermined responses which
`are preprogrammed into the receiving terminals software. In
`the more distant future. however. true two-way voice mes
`saging terminals are planned to be commercially introduced.
`In such two-way voice messaging systems. it is anticipated
`that a user will be able to transmit a message to a receiving
`terminal which. in turn. will have the capability of respond
`ing to such transmitting terminal with a response voice
`message.
`It is currently anticipated that the voice messages will be
`transmitted along a digital path for purposes of quality and
`e?ident use of bandwidth. and therefore the voice messages
`will have to be coded with one of a variety of known speech
`encoding/decoding systems (e.g.. Multi-Band Excitation
`(lWBE). Single Band Excitation (SBE). Sub-Band Coding
`(SBC). Harmonic Coding. Linear Predictive Coding (LPC).
`Discrete Cosign Transform (DCI‘). Modi?ed DCI‘. Fast
`Fourier Transform (FFT). and more recently. Code Excited
`Linear Prediction (CELP). Vector Sum Excited Linear Pre
`diction (VSELP). Pitch Synchronous Innovation-CELT’. and
`Regular Pulse Excitation-bong Term Prediction (RPE-LTP)
`). Additionally. it is expected that some type of data com
`pression algorithm will be used to compress the digitally
`coded voice message. in order reduce cost and make e?icient
`use of available bandwidth.
`One problem likely to be encountered with voice mes
`saging systems. however. is that while the person transmit
`ting a message may have the capability of transmitting and
`receiving a voice page. the intended recipient of the trans
`mitted message may have a receiver which is incapable of
`reproducing audio signals and thus incapable of receiving
`such voice messages. For example. the receiving device may
`be a computer. a facsimile or a text-only pager. or the
`intended recipient may have his pager card docked into a
`device. such as a PDA. which may have a display. but does
`not have the capability of reproducing audio signals. and
`consequently. voice messages.
`It would be desirable therefore for the person sending the
`message to have the capability of alternatively transmitting
`the message as a voice page or as a text page depending upon
`the technical speci?cations of the receiving device.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Accordingly. it is one object of the invention to provide a
`two-way messaging system which has the capability of
`transmitting either voice and/or text messages.
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
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`
`5,724,410
`
`10
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`2
`It is still another object of the invention to provide a voice
`messaging terminal wherein a user can transmit a voice
`message to a receiving device which does not have the
`capability of reproducing the voice message.
`It is yet another object of the invention to provide a voice
`messaging terminal which has the capability of transmitting
`a voice message which is converted to a text message of the
`receiving device is not capable of reproducing the voice
`message.
`Therefore. in accordance with one aspect of the invention.
`there is provided in one embodiment of the invention. a
`voice messaging terminal in which a voice message is
`digitally encoded and stored in a memory. A receiving
`terminal selection unit connected to the ?rst memory pref
`erably allows for the selection of the receiving terminal to
`which the voice message is to be transmitted. The receiving
`terminal selection unit then receives the stored. digitally
`encoded voice message and determines whether the selected
`receiving terminal is capable of reproducing the voice
`message. If the receiving terminal can reproduce the voice
`message. the voice message is transmitted to the selected
`receiving terminal. If it is not capable of reproducing the
`voice message. the voice message is converted into a text
`message in a speech-to-text converter in the voice messag
`ing terminal and then transmitted to the selected receiving
`terminal.
`According to another aspect of the invention. a micro
`phone in the messaging terminal receives the voice message
`and converts the voice message into an analog electrical
`signal. This analog signal is then digitized in a CODEC. and
`the resulting coded digital signal is then stored in ?rst
`memory. A receiving terminal selection unit. which prefer
`ably includes an actuator and a second memory. allows for
`the selection of a receiving terminal to which to transmit the
`voice message. If it is determined in the receiving terminal
`selection trait that the receiving terminal is not capable of
`reproducing the voice message. the stored coded digital
`signal representing the voice message is provided to a
`speech-to-text converter. where it is converted to a text
`message. The text message is then encoded with a commu
`nications protocol and thereafter transmitted to the selected
`receiving terminal. If it is determined in the receiving
`terminal selection unit that the receiving terminal is capable
`of reproducing the voice message. then the coded digital
`signal representing the voice message is directly transmitted.
`after encoding with an appropriate communications proto
`col.
`In one embodiment of the present invention. the receiving
`terminal recedes the text message in a receiver. The com
`munications protocol of the received text message is then
`decoded. and the thus decoded text message is stored in a
`memory in the receiving terminal. The text message may
`then be displayed on the receiving terminal’s display. Such
`display of the text message is preferably realized upon
`actuation of an actuator.
`In another embodiment of the present invention. the
`receiving terminal receives the voice message in a receive.
`After the received voice message communications protocol
`is decoded. and the thus decoded voice message stored in the
`receiving terminals’ memory. a CODEC decodes the stored
`message to provide an analog signal representing the voice
`message. and an audio reproducing unit reproduces the
`analog signal as the received voice message.
`In still another embodiment of the present invention the
`receiving terminal provides a response text message to the
`voice messaging terminal. which may display the text mes
`
`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 7
`
`

`

`3
`sage or convert it to a voice message. The response text
`message is received in a receiver of the voice messaging
`terminal. where a decoder decodes the message’s commu
`nications protocol. The text message is then stored in a
`memory of the voice messaging terminal. The text message
`may then be read from memory to a display of the voice
`messaging terminal. or it may be read from memory. con
`verted to speech by a text-to-speech converter. decoded by
`a CODEC to provide an analog signal. and then reproduced
`at an audio reproducing unit of the messaging terminal.
`The features of the present invention believed to be novel
`are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
`However. the invention itself may be best understood with
`reference to the following description in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the
`voice messaging of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a receiving terminal
`which is incapable of reproducing the voice message trans
`mitted from the transmitting terminal of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a receiving terminal
`which is capable of reproducing the voice message trans
`mitted from the transmitting terminal of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the receiving circuitry of
`one embodiment of the voice messaging terminal of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 5 shows a ?owchart describing the operation of the
`voice messaging terminal of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 6 is a ?owchart describing the operation of the
`receiving terminal of FIG. 2
`FIG. 7 is a ?owchart describing the operation of the
`receiving terminal of FIG. 3
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`An embodiment of the system and method for transmit
`ting information from a voice messaging to a receiving
`terminal will now be described in detail with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`Referring to FIG. 1. a block diagram of the voice mes
`saging terminal of the present invention is shown. In the
`preferred embodiment. a voice messaging terminal 20 is a
`two-way paging terminal. although it will be appreciated
`that the present invention is not so limited. The messaging
`terminal 20 preferably includes a microphone 22 for receiv
`ing voice signals to be transmitted. The user of the messag
`ing terminal 20 actuates a “recor ” button or switch (not
`shown) to begin the recording of the voice signals compris
`ing the message to be transmitted. and then speaks into the
`microphone 22 ( the output of the microphone may be
`ampli?ed by an ampli?er (not shown) as necessary). The
`voice signals received in the microphone 22 are then pro
`vided to a device 24 which will convert the analog voice
`signal to a coded digital signal; as shown in FIG. 1. this
`digitizing device 24 is preferably a CODEC (coder/decoder)
`(although the CODEC 24 may be implemented as a process
`carried out in a digital signal processor). Although any
`CODEC 24 and above-discussed encoding decoding algo
`rithms may be used in the implementation of the subject
`invention. the preferable CODEC 24 is that embodied in the
`VCFD-100 chip manufactured by. and commercially avail
`able from. Digital Voice Systems. Inc.. Burlington. Mass.
`The VCFD-l00 device uses Advanced Multi-Band Exalta
`tion (AMBE) to encode a speech message in real-time into
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5.724.410
`
`4
`a bitstream in the range of 3.6 to 2.4 Kbps. This equates to
`a compression ratio 8.821 to 13.3:1 as compared with a 32
`Kbps PCM representation. Even further real-time voice
`compression is expected in the near future. and it will be
`appreciated that the CODEC 24 used in the present inven
`tion is meant to encompass such compression technology.
`After encoding in the CODEC 24. this coded digital signal
`is then stored in a memory 26 under the control of controller
`34. In one embodiment. the messaging terminal also
`includes circuitry for playing back the message ?rst
`recorded in order to verify the accuracy of the message and
`to make any corrections deemed appropriate. Such playback
`circuitry generally includes an actuator 28. connected to the
`memory 26. which when actuated by the user of the mes
`saging terminal 20. will cause the memory 26 to read out the
`coded digital signal to the CODEC 24 for decoding. the
`analog output of which is supplied to an audio reproducing
`unit 32 for reproduction of the voice message. If the user
`desires to correct or alter the message. he may actuate the
`“record” button or switch (not shown) again to begin the
`re-recording. The voice signals comprising the new voice
`mes sage will then be re-written from the microphone 22 into
`the memory 26.
`The memory 26 in which the encoded voice message is
`stored is connected to a receiving terminal selection unit 36.
`the latter of which is further connected to a memory 38. in
`which are stored the numbers and receiving addresses. of
`various receiving terminals.
`Preferably. the receiving terminal selection unit 36
`includes at least an actuator (not shown) connected to the
`memory 38. so that upon actuation of such actuator. the
`voice messaging terminal 20 user may read out from
`memory 38 to a display 44. one or more of the assorted with
`the receiving terminal(s) to which he will select to transmit
`a voice message. Actuation of this actuator will also pref
`erably cause memory 26 to read out the encoded voice
`message stored therein to the receiving terminal selection
`unit 36. where the encoded voice message will be associated
`with the number and receiving address of the selected
`receiving terminal(s).
`The receiving terminal selection unit 36 in conjunction
`with memory 38. and under the control of controller 34.
`determines whether the selected receiving terminal is
`capable of reproducing voice messages. In one embodiment.
`the receiving terminal selection unit 36 makes this determi
`nation according to the number or receiving address of the
`selected receiving terminal(s). For example. it is known that
`providers of paging. and other messaging services. assign a
`group of numbers/addresses to those messaging and paging
`devices which are members of its service. It is anticipated
`that messaging service providers will further group these
`number/addresses according to the type of service to which
`the member devices have subscribed; e. g.. out of a group of
`numbers ranging from 1.000.000 t0 3.000.000. a ?rst block
`of numbers from. for example. 1.000.000. to 2.500.000’.
`would be assigned to text paging services and related
`devices. while a second block of numbers. for example
`2.500.001 to 3.000.000. would be assigned to voice mes
`saging services and related devices. The devices which are
`members of such paging and voice messaging services.
`could then have preprogrammed into the memory 38 (and/or
`associated software or ?rmware in the receiving terminal
`selection unit 36) an identifying ?ag which would indicate
`that those receiving terminals having the numbers/addresses
`1.000.000 to 2.500.000 comprise text pagers. while those
`receiving terminals having the numbers/addresses 2.500.001
`to 3.000.000 are voice messaging devices. Thus. when the
`
`Google Ex. 1223, pg. 8
`
`

`

`5 ,724,4l0
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`5
`voice messaging terminal user selects the receiving terminal
`from the receiving terminal selection unit 36. the selected
`receiving terminals number/address with the appropriate
`identifying ?ag appended thereto. would be read out from
`memory 38 and processed in the voice messaging terminal
`according to the identifying ?ag. as will be discussed in the
`forthcoming paragraphs. Of course. it will be appreciated by
`those skilled in the art that alternative means for making
`such a determination may be implemented via hardware.
`software and/or ?rmware in the voice messaging terminal.
`and it is intended that such alternative means be embraced
`within the scope of the present invention.
`Once the receiving terminal(s) have been selected in. and
`their voice reproducing capability determined by. the receiv
`ing terminal selection unit 36. the coded digital signal
`representing the voice message will be provided to a speech
`to-text converter 40. or directly to a protocol encoder 48.
`accordingly. Thus. if the receiving terminal selection unit 36
`determines that the receiving terminal is capable of repro
`ducing the voice message. then the coded digital signal will
`be directly provided to the protocol encoder 48. where it will
`be encoded with a communications protocol appropriate to
`the particular messaging service and coding standard being
`used (e.g.. the POCSAG standard. Motoroh’s FLEX
`standard. etc). After being encoded with a communications
`protocol. the encoded digital voice signal will be transmitted
`from transmitter 50 through antenna 52 to the appropriate
`receiving terminal(s) upon actuation of a transmission actua
`tor 49.
`If. however. the receiving terminal selection unit 36
`determines that the receiving terminal is not capable of
`reproducing the voice message. then the coded digital signal
`representing the voice message will be provided to the
`speech-to-text converter 40. where the coded digital signal
`will be converted into a text message. The speech-to-text
`converter may comprise any speech recognition device. but
`preferably is one of the commercially available speech
`recognition devices selected from the RSC series manufac
`tured by Sensory Circuits. Inc.. San Jose. Calif. The thus
`converted message will then be provided to a protocol
`encoder 48. where it will be encoded with a communications
`protocol and then transmitted from transmitter 50 through
`transmitter 52 to the appropriate receiving terminal(s). upon
`actuation of transmission actuator 49.
`Thus. for example. if the receiving terminal selection unit
`36 were to determine that the receiving terminal were a
`modem-connected computer having no voice reproduction
`capability. or a facsimile machine or text-only pager. the
`encoded voice message would be convened to a text mes
`sage in the speech-to-text converter 40. encoded with a
`communications protocol. and transmitted. In this manner.
`the user of a voice messaging terminal may communicate
`with any other receiving terminal. irrespective of the receiv
`ing terminal’s capability of reproducing the voice message.
`In the preferred embodiment. there is also provided an
`actuator 42. connected to the speech-to-text converter 40 and
`the display 46 of said voice messaging terminal 20 via a
`display interface 44. Under the control of the controller 34.
`actuation of the actuator 34 will cause the text message to be
`displayed on the display 46. so that the user may ensure
`accuracy of the speech-to-text conversion. and make
`changes as appropriate. If the user determines that the text
`message does not comprise the recorded voice message. he
`may re-record the voice message. encode the re-recorded
`voice message in the CODEC 24. and then convert the
`newly resulting coded digital signal to a text message in the
`speech-to-text converter 40. This process may be repeated as
`necessary to ensure the accuracy of the text message.
`
`6
`FIGS. 2 and 3 show embodiments of the receiving ter
`minals 70 of the present invention. The receiving terminal
`70 of FIG. 2 is not capable of receiving the transmitted voice
`message. and thus will receive the transmitted message
`which has been converted to a text message in the messaging
`terminal 20. Under the control of controller 80. the message
`will be received through an antenna 82. into a receiver 84.
`The communications protocol of the received text message
`will be translated in a protocol decoder 86. and the resulting
`decoded text message will be stored in a memory 88. Upon
`actuation of an actuator 94. and under the control of the
`controller 80. the text message will be forwarded through a
`display interface 90 for display on a display 92.
`Conversely. the receiving terminal 70 of FIG. 3 is capable
`of receiving the transmitted voice message. Under the con
`trol of controller 80. the voice message will be received from
`the voice messaging terminal 20 through an antenna 82. into
`a receiver 84. The communications protocol of the received
`voice message will be translated in a protocol decoder 86.
`and the resulting voice message will be stored in a memory
`99. Upon actuation of an actuator 94. and under the control
`of the controller 80. the voice message will be decoded in a
`CODEC 96 (or digital signal processor) to provide an analog
`signal. This resulting analog signal will then be ampli?ed by
`ampli?er 99 and reproduced at speaker 100.
`Receiving circuitry of one embodiment of the messaging
`terminal 20 of the present invention is shown at FIG. 4. In
`the case where the receiving terminal 70 is also a two-way
`messaging device. it has the capability of transmitting a
`response message back to the messaging terminal 20. The
`response message may be either a voice or text message.
`depending upon the speci?cation of the receiving terminal
`70. and if the response message is a text message. it would
`be desirable for the mm" to have the capability of displaying
`the response message as text on the messaging terminal’s 20
`display. or reproducing the response message as a synthe
`sized voice signal. For example. in the case where the
`response message comprises a text message. the user of the
`messaging terminal 20 might desire to have the response
`message converted to synthesized speech in order that he
`might listen to the response message instead of having to
`tediously scroll through the text.
`The voice messaging terminal 20 will receive the
`response message through antenna 110 (which maybe the
`same as antenna 38 (FIG. 1)) into receiver 112 under the
`control of controller 126 (which may be the same as con
`troller 34 (FIG. 1)). The communications protocol of the
`response text message will be decoded at protocol decoder
`14 and the decoded text will be stored in memory 116 (which
`also maybe the same as memory 26 of FIG. 1) again. under
`the control of controller 126. In a preferred embodiment.
`absent the actuation of an actuator 126. the response text
`message will then be forwarded to the messaging terminal’s
`display 46 through a display interface 44. Again. the user
`may desire to instead convert the response text message to
`synthesized voice. By actuating actuator 128. the controller
`will cause the stored response text message to be read out
`from memory 116 to a text-to-speech converter 118 for
`conversion to digitized speech signal. and then to a CODEC
`120 for conversion and decoding of the digitized speech
`signal to an analog speech signal. (It will be appreciated. of
`course. that the CODEC 120 is preferably the same as
`CODEC 24 of FIG. 1). The analog signal output from the
`CODEC 120 is then ampli?ed at an ampli?er 122 and
`reproduced at a speaker 124. Thus. the user of the messaging
`terminal 20 has the option of either displaying the response
`text message. or convening the text message to synthesized
`voice for audio reproduction.
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`The ?ow char of FIG. 5 illustrates the process of the
`present invention. At step S10. the microphone receives the
`voice signals from the user and converts the voice signals to
`an analog signal at step S20. The analog signal is digitized
`into a coded digital signal at step S30. and thereafter stored
`in a memory at step S40. At step S50. If the user wishes to
`replay the recorded message. the coded digital signal is read
`from memory and decoded in the CODEC at step S60. and
`then reproduced at the speaker (step S70). If the user then
`desires to re-record the message (step S80). the process
`branches to the beginning. and steps S10 through S70 are
`repeated as set forth above. Otherwise. the process proceeds
`to step S90 where if the receiving terminal selection unit 36
`determines that the receiving terminal 70 is incapable of
`reproducing voice messages. the coded digital signal is
`convened to a text message and displayed on the display 46
`(step S 100). If the user determines that the displayed text
`message is incorrect at step S10. the process again branches
`to the beginning and steps S10 through S100 are repeated as
`set forth previously. If the text is deemed to be correct at step
`S110. the text message is encoded with a communications
`protocol at step S 120 and thereafter transmitted to the
`appropriate receiving terminal(s) at step S130. If. at step
`S90. it is determined that the receiving terminal is capable
`of reproducing voice messages. the process branches to step
`120. where the encoded digital signal representing the voice
`message is encoded with the communications protocol. The
`encoded digital signal is thereafter transmitted to the appro
`priate receiving terrninal(s) at step S130.
`If the receiving terminal is unable to reproduce the voice
`message. then the converted text message is received at step
`S200 (FIG. 6). Thereafter. the communications protocol of
`the message decoded (step S210). and the decoded message
`is stored in memory at step S220. Upon actuation of a
`display actlrator at S230. the text message will be displayed
`at step S240.
`If the receiving terminal is able to reproduce the voice
`message. then the converted text message is received at step
`S250 (FIG. 7). Thereafter. the communications protocol of
`the message decoded (step S260). and the decoded message
`is stored in memory at step S270. Upon actuation of a play
`actuator at S280. the voice message will be decoded and
`reproduced at step S290.
`It is apparent that in accordance with the present
`invention. an embodiment that fully satis?es the objectives.
`aims and advantages is set forth above. While the invention
`has been described in conjunction with speci?c
`embodiments. it is evident that many alternatives.
`modi?cations. permutations and variations will become
`apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing
`description. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled
`in the art. Accordingly. it is intended that the present
`invention embrace all such alternatives. modi?cations and
`variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. Avoice messaging terminal for communicating with at
`least one receiving terminal. comprising:
`microphone means for receiving a voice message. and for
`converting said voice message to an analog electrical
`signal;
`?rst processing means for digitizing said analog electrical
`signal into a coded digital signal;
`a ?rst memory for storing said coded digital signal;
`receiving terminal selection means connected to said ?rst
`memory for determining whether said at least one
`receiving terminal is capable of reproducing said voice
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`message and for providing a ?rst output of said at least
`one receiving terminal is not capable of reproducing
`said voice message and for providing a second output
`of said at least one receiving terminal is capable of
`reproducing said voice message;
`converter means for converting said coded digital signal
`into a text message in response to said ?rst output from
`said receiving terminal selection means;
`encoding means for encoding said text message with a
`communications protocol to provide an encoded text
`message in response to said ?rst output from said
`receiving terminal selection means and for encoding
`said coded digital signal with said communications
`protocol to provide an encoded digital voice message in
`response t