GTL 1013
`IPR of U.S. Pat. No. 8,135,115
`
`0001
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Jun. 30, 2005 Sheet 1 of 2
`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`30
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`70
`
`80
`
`90
`
`170’
`
` Digital Data
`
`Integrated Access Device (IAD)
`
`T
`E
` Conversion from Analog voice to
`
`Digital Data
`.
`.
`.
`Compression Module
`h
`T l
`
`ongmatmg e ep one
`Ethernet Interface
`
`Analog Voice
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_
`2
`§
`‘=3
`>
`Router
`
`_
`2
`;’
`.9
`x
`
`8’
`
`
`Destination Telephone
`(Analog)
`
`
`.
`Ethemat lmaface
`Telco Network Interface
`
`3
`0 ‘+4
`.9. E E
`.5 330 :3Q -
`
`
`
`WAN
`
`Transport
`
`10
`
`160
`
`150
`
`140
`
`Router
`Central Data Center
` Voice over
`Ethernet
`Ethernet interface
`
`
`Telco Network Interface
`
`
`
`0002
`
`0002
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Jun. 30, 2005 Sheet 2 of 2
`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`Digital Data/Voice
`Converter
`
`
`
`
`Database
`
`Voice over
`Ethernet
`
`0003
`
`0003
`
`

`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`Jun. 30, 2005
`
`CENTRALIZED VOICE OVER IP RECORDING
`AND RETRIEVAL METHOD AND APPARATUS
`
`PRIORITY CLAIM
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provi-
`sional Application No. 60/527,918, entitled “CENTRAL-
`IZED VOICE OVER IP RECORDING AND RETRIEVAL
`METHOD AND APPARATUS”, filed Dec. 8, 2003, which
`is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present subject matter relates generally to a
`method and apparatus for recording telephone conversa-
`tions. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to
`a method and apparatus for recording, at a centralized
`location, telephone conversation conducted at remote loca-
`tions. The present subject matter further includes aspects
`involving information storage
`and retrieval
`involving
`recorded conversations.
`
`[0003] The present subject matter is directed in one aspect,
`although not exclusively, towards the penal (i.e., correc-
`tions) environment. Various law enforcement entities find it
`desirable, even necessary (for example, such as required by
`law or circumstances),
`to record some or all
`telephone
`conversations conducted by inmates in penal institutions or
`other detainees in similar facilities. Highly specialized tele-
`communications equipment and facilities must be provided
`to meet the various needs of governmental officials and
`others in addressing the desire to monitor and/or record
`telephone conversations under varying circumstances. As a
`non-limiting example, the remainder of the present disclo-
`sure will refer to the recording of telephone conversations
`within the above noted particular environment. It is to be
`strictly understood, however, that the present technology
`may be applied to and/or used within other areas where
`recording of conversations may be of interest. For example,
`it may be desirable, for training or other purposes, to record
`conversations involving sales personnel who might be
`involved with soliciting sales or taking orders from custom-
`ers. Alternatively, there could be an interest in recording, for
`training or other purposes, conversations involving persons
`involved with information exchange such as technical assis-
`tants who may provide instruction or assistance to individu-
`als seeking technical support involved with various equip-
`ment, computer software or other areas where a user or
`operator may require assistance in understanding, operating,
`using, etc. various items or agencies of interest
`to the
`individuals involved. As such, it should be understood that
`the present technology has applicability to any situation
`where there is a need or desire to record, categorize, store,
`search, retrieve and/or replay telephone conversations.
`
`It has been common practice for many years in the
`[0004]
`penal (corrections) environment to record and/or monitor
`inmates’ conversations. Such recording and monitoring
`takes place in the very controlled atmosphere of permitted
`inmate communications with individuals outside of the
`
`facilities housing prisoners or inmates. Normally prisoners
`are limited to a small number of individuals that they are
`permitted to call. These may include family members, their
`lawyers, and friends and may specifically exclude others, for
`example judges, jury members, witnesses, former co-con-
`spirators and other like individuals to whom calls from a
`
`particular inmate may be of a harassing or other undesired
`nature. There may be time of day, length of call, three-way
`call or other restrictions on calls, all of which must be
`controlled by way of various instrumentalities that may
`include computer controlled equipment at the facility and/or
`at remote locations in addition to human monitoring and/or
`control. In almost all instances, such telephone calls must be
`recorded; yet even in those instances, there are conditions
`that may impact on the desire, ability, or legal right to record
`such conversations. For example,
`it
`is inappropriate to
`record or monitor conversations between an inmate and
`
`his/her attorney, and thus, measures must be taken to insure
`that, where calls are made from an inmate to his/her attorney,
`no recording is made or monitoring is allowed.
`
`[0005] The particular needs described above have been
`addressed in the prior art, which, in major part, has provided
`responses to accommodate the majority of the needs
`addressed. Examples of such include LazerPhoneTM and
`LazerVoice®, products provided by the assignee of the
`present subject matter. LazerPhoneTM is a centralized, PC-
`based, integrated telephone system with features that pro-
`vide control of inmate telecommunications activities. The
`
`system provides call blocking and monitoring, account
`control including personal identification number (PIN) setup
`and control, report generation including automated trouble
`reports, call activity reports and other administrative reports
`as well as numerous other features.
`
`feature of Lazer-
`[0006] LazerVoice® is an optional
`PhoneTM and provides a recording function for the Lazer-
`PhoneTM system. LazerVoice® is a modular system that
`provides the ability to record at its installation site selected
`telephone conversations, permit monitoring by appropriate
`authorities of selected conversations, and store for later
`retrieval recorded conversations as well as other functions
`
`and operations involving the recording of telephone conver-
`sations. Additional
`information regarding these products
`may be found at the World Wide Web site, www.gtl.us, of the
`corporate owner of the present application interests.
`
`[0007] While it is considered well known that the record-
`ing of inmate telephone conversations is advantageous to
`governmental agencies and appropriate authorities in that
`information regarding the security of facilities and general
`continuing or past criminal activity may be found in such
`recordings, retaining the recordings of the inmate calls
`presents a substantial challenge as the data becomes large
`very quickly. Maintaining these large stores of recorded
`conversations at the facilities or creating data warehouses in
`remote locations with limited environmental controls is
`
`problematic. Due to the shear size of the recordings,
`attempting to move them from the sites requires very high
`bandwidth, which is prohibitively expensive. Additionally, if
`the recordings are stored away from the site, the ability to
`conduct investigations is hampered due to the time neces-
`sary to copy the recording back to the local computer for
`playback. Finally, if the recordings are simply stored at a
`single facility, such may hamper investigations that may
`need to be conducted from various locations.
`
`[0008] While various aspects and alternative features are
`known in the field of telecommunications and telephone
`conversation recording, no one design has emerged that
`generally integrates all of the ideal features and performance
`characteristics as discussed herein.
`
`0004
`
`0004
`
`

`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`Jun. 30, 2005
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`and
`recognizes
`subject matter
`[0009] The present
`addresses several of the foregoing shortcomings, and others
`concerning certain aspects of recording telephone conver-
`sations within a penal (corrections) environment.
`
`[0010] Thus, broadly speaking, aspects of some embodi-
`ments of the presently disclosed technology concern the
`provision of improved apparatus and corresponding meth-
`odology to provide for the recording of telephone conver-
`sation(s). More particularly, certain aspects of some embodi-
`ments of the disclosed technology relate to an improved
`apparatus and corresponding methodology using digital
`technology, the provision and practice of which will help
`insure that recorded telephone conversations will have the
`maximum possible availability to authorized personnel.
`
`[0011] Another aspect of certain embodiments of the
`present subject matter is to provide an improved apparatus
`and corresponding methodology that provides safe, secure
`and virtually unlimited off-site storage of recorded data.
`
`[0012] A further aspect of certain embodiments of the
`present subject matter is to provide an improved apparatus
`and corresponding methodology for conveniently searching
`a database, and accessing and reviewing data records includ-
`ing previously recorded telephone conversations stored at a
`remote location.
`
`[0013] Astill further aspect of certain embodiments of the
`present subject matter is to provide an improved apparatus
`and corresponding methodology for accessing and monitor-
`ing real-time telephone conversations.
`
`[0014] Additional aspects and advantages of the present
`subject matter are set forth in or will be apparent to those of
`ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description herein.
`Also, it should be further appreciated by those of ordinary
`skill
`in the art
`that modifications and variations to the
`
`specifically illustrated, referenced, and discussed features
`and steps hereof may be practiced in various embodiments
`and uses of this subject matter without departing from the
`spirit and scope thereof, by virtue of present reference
`thereto. Such variations may include, but are not limited to,
`substitution of equivalent means and features, materials, or
`steps for those shown, referenced, or discussed, and the
`functional, operational, or positional reversal of various
`parts, features, steps, or the like.
`
`it is to be understood that different
`[0015] Still further,
`embodiments,
`as well as different presently preferred
`embodiments, of this subject matter may include various
`combinations or configurations of presently disclosed fea-
`tures, steps, or elements, or their equivalents (including
`combinations of features or steps or configurations thereof
`not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed
`description).
`
`[0016] A first exemplary embodiment of the present sub-
`ject matter relates to an improved apparatus and correspond-
`ing methodology for digitizing voice audio from telephone
`conversations and storing corresponding digital files for later
`use.
`
`[0017] Another exemplary embodiment of the present
`subject matter relates to an improved apparatus and corre-
`sponding methodology for digitizing voice audio from tele-
`phone conversations and, in real time, making those con-
`
`versations available for monitoring at remote locations by
`authorized individuals (or systems).
`
`[0018] A more particular exemplary embodiment of the
`present technology relates to an improved apparatus and
`corresponding methodology for remotely converting tele-
`phone conversations into a digital format and storing digital
`files based on the converted telephone conversations in such
`a manner as to provide searchable access to the stored digital
`files from anywhere access to the Internet is available.
`
`[0019] Still another particular exemplary embodiment of
`the present subject matter involves a specialized phone
`system for use in relation to a prison environment, having an
`audio recording system. Such a system may include a
`telephone instrument
`located at a first
`location situated
`within a prison facility; an analog to digital converter,
`having an input and an output, with the telephone instrument
`coupled to the input of such analog to digital converter; and
`a data storage device located at a second location comprising
`a defined central data center physically remote from the first
`location, which such data storage device being coupled to
`the output of the analog to digital converter. With such
`system, advantageously inmate conversation data from
`inmate conversations conducted by way of the telephone
`instrument at the prison facility may be recorded and stored
`at the central data center, physically remote from the prison
`facility.
`
`[0020] Additional embodiments of the subject technology,
`not necessarily expressed in this summarized section, may
`include and incorporate various combinations of aspects of
`features, parts, or steps referenced in the summarized objec-
`tives above, and/or features, parts, or steps as otherwise
`discussed in this application.
`
`[0021] Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appre-
`ciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and
`others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0022] A full and enabling description of the present
`subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to
`one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specifica-
`tion, which makes reference to the appended figures,
`in
`which:
`
`[0023] FIG. 1 is a generally representational block dia-
`gram illustrating an overview of the present subject matter;
`and
`
`[0024] FIG. 2 representatively illustrates features within
`the central data center in accordance with present subject
`matter.
`
`[0025] Repeat use of reference characters throughout the
`present specification and appended drawings is intended to
`represent same or analogous features or elements of the
`present subject matter.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0026] As referenced in the Summary of the Invention
`section, supra, the present subject matter is directed towards
`an improved apparatus and corresponding methodology for
`recording telephone conversations.
`
`[0027] Reference will now be made to the presently dis-
`closed technology, specifically with reference to FIGS. 1
`0005
`
`0005
`
`

`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`Jun. 30, 2005
`
`and 2. It will be observed from FIG. 1 that the present
`technology is directed to apparatus and a methodology for
`recording telephone conversations and storing the recorded
`conversations at a central data center 110. Further,
`the
`present technology provides an Integrated Access Device
`(IAD) 30 wherein voice signals are converted to a digital
`format and routed by way of a wide area network
`transport mechanism to the central data center 110 for
`storage. IAD 30 may be embodied as a device more com-
`monly known as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
`Gateway. It is to be specifically understood, however, that
`the present technology does not require specific devices or
`systems for implementation but rather is more broadly
`directed to the inclusion of devices and systems designed to
`convert analog voice signals into a digital format suitable for
`transmission over a digital network. In addition, although
`not required for the present
`technology,
`the WAN may
`consist of the Internet, but may equally consist of a wide area
`network not directly connected, although possibly connect-
`able, to the Internet. Variations of such aspect of the present
`subject matter are known to those of ordinary skill in the art,
`and form no particular aspect of the present subject matter.
`Such variations may also include subsequently developed
`technology, even though not presently in existence, for
`forming such transport aspects of the present broader subject
`matter.
`
`[0028] The methodology of the present technology starts
`with an origination telephone 10, which,
`in the present
`example, may be used by inmates at a penal facility to make
`telephone calls. As discussed above,
`there are several
`aspects involved with an inmate actually placing a call that
`are not directly related to the present technology but which
`will be briefly described to provide a more complete descrip-
`tion of the environment within which the present technology
`is employed. In the present environment, a prisoner will
`normally lift a handset to his or her ear and, without dialing
`any digits, be presented with one or more prompts, such as
`a series of prompts. In response to various of these prompts,
`an inmate may be required, for example,
`to provide a
`personal identification number (PIN), provide a selection of
`billing type, (collect, person-to-person, prepaid, etc.) pro-
`vide a destination number, provide a voice identification for
`recording and playback to the called party, etc. In response
`to the responses provided by the inmate,
`the telephone
`system may respond, for example, by verifying account
`information provided, authorizing access to the telephone
`system, determining whether the conversation should be
`recorded, etc., all of which are significant to the overall
`operation of a telephone system within a corrections envi-
`ronment but which are of secondary importance to the
`present technology and, thus, will not be described in further
`detail except to say that the aspects involving verification of
`information provided and determination of whether access
`will be provided as well as determining whether a particular
`conversation is to be recorded may be determined by equip-
`ment or personnel either at the central data center 110 or at
`some other location. It is sufficient to say that, once an
`inmate is granted access to the telephone system and a
`conversation is in progress,
`if, during the authorization
`process, a determination was made that a recording of the
`conversation should take place, mechanisms and/or features
`are activated, for example, a flag may be set in control
`software, to accomplish or set in motion that goal.
`
`[0029] The actual calling process begins at origination
`telephone 10. An inmate’s conversation is carried as analog
`voice data 20 over a link to an Integrated Access Device
`(IAD) 30, which converts the analog voice information into
`digital data. The IAD 30 may be co-located at the same
`facility as the origination telephone or may be at a more
`remote location and coupled to the origination telephone
`through appropriate connecting lines including, but not
`limited to, the public switched telephone network (PSTN). If
`the inmate has placed a call to a local number, the voice
`audio is sent in analog form to the destination telephone 150.
`At the same time the voice information, which has been
`converted to digital data, is further processed by a compres-
`sion module within IAD 30 into highly compressed data.
`This highly compressed data is then routed over data circuits
`to the central data center 110. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
`data circuit includes respective routers 50 and 90, which
`provide Ethernet and telephone company (Telco) network
`interface functions and a WAN 70, which as previously
`discussed may consist of the Internet, an independent wide
`area network or any other network (now or later known)
`capable of transporting data. The data circuits also include
`coupling arrangements 40 and 100 for carrying Voice over
`an Ethernet, and coupling arrangements 60 and 80 for
`carrying Voice in Digital Data form. Once the Voice data
`reaches the central data center, they are stored as will be
`more fully described hereinafter. Data compression may be
`utilized in various transmissions.
`
`[0030] Upon arrival at the central data center 110, the now
`highly compressed voice data may be further processed with
`an eye toward storage of the data. In this regard, at the end
`of the conversation, the entire conversation is written in the
`compressed data format to a file on the storage device 220
`(FIG. 2) at the central data center 110. Also upon completion
`of the conversation, the file is closed and identifying infor-
`mation is written to a database with which the compressed
`conversation data is associated. The identifying information
`may include information necessary to retrieve the stored
`compressed conversation data and may include, but is not
`limited to, such information as prisoner’s name, origination
`number, destination number, time and date of call, facility
`location, and any other such identifying information as may
`be desirable for any particular installation or circumstance.
`
`If the call placed by the inmate was a long distance
`[0031]
`call, the voice data may be converted to a format suitable for
`coupling to the PSTN generally 130 for transport through
`appropriate coupling mechanisms 120, 140 to the destina-
`tion telephone 150 to complete the call. As with the call
`authorization process discussed briefly above,
`the exact
`mechanism for completing a long distance call is not impor-
`tant
`to the present
`technology but rather the aspect of
`transporting the highly compressed voice data to the central
`data center regardless of the type of call made, local or long
`distance, is paramount.
`
`[0032] Finally, before discussing the more specific aspects
`relating to the digital data/voice conversion facilities of the
`present technology, two additional items will be notice with
`respect to FIG. 1. In particular, attention is directed to
`workstation 170 and the representatively illustrated coupling
`of workstation 170 through a bi-directional coupling mecha-
`nism 200 to the central data center 110 through the Internet
`indicated with a general cloud-like representation 180 and
`the bi-directional coupling mechanism 190. Attention is also
`0006
`
`0006
`
`

`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`Jun. 30, 2005
`
`directed to workstation 170‘ and the representatively illus-
`trated coupling of workstation 170‘ through a bi-directional
`coupling mechanism 20‘ to the Integrated Access Device 30.
`As represented by these illustrated relationships, the present
`technology may be used to couple a workstation 170 through
`any available connection 200 to the Internet and from there
`to the central data center 110 as well as couple a workstation
`170‘
`that may be associatively located with origination
`telephone 10 or IAD 30 back thru the WAN to the central
`data center 110. Workstations 170, 170‘ may be provided
`with a web based application so that an operator my enter
`criteria for a search of the central database for recordings
`meeting such criteria. Upon execution of a query to the
`stored database 220 of the central data center 110, a list of
`matching call records is presented to the workstation opera-
`tor. The operator may select from the matching call records
`and the call conversation data will be sent back to the
`
`requesting workstation 170 or 170‘ in a streaming format. At
`the workstations 170, 170‘ a converter is provided that
`converts the compressed conversation data on the fly into a
`standard Windows “.wav” format. This transfer method
`
`allows for evaluation of the call during the data transfer
`process, thus removing the delay in waiting for the entire file
`to download prior to review.
`[0033] Workstations 170, 170‘ may also be used to monitor
`real-time conversations in a manner similar to retrieving and
`monitoring stored conversations. A workstation operator
`may, for example, have previously entered search criteria
`with an indication that, should a call matching the criteria
`occur, notice and opportunity to monitor such call should be
`issued to an appropriate authority. Workstations 170, 170‘
`may also be used for a number of other purposes including,
`but not limited to, control of certain operational aspects
`within the central data center 110. Such operational aspects
`may include, but are not limited to, manipulation of inmate
`or corrections facility account information, generation of
`operational and billing reports and other such functions as
`may be necessary and/or allowed for users or operators of
`the telephone system in general but are not specifically
`related to and a part of the voice data recording, storing,
`search, retrieval, and playback capability which is specifi-
`cally a part of the presently disclosed technology.
`[0034] With reference now to FIG. 2, a more specific
`discussion of the operational aspects of central data center
`110 will be undertaken. Central data center 110 is, in one
`embodiment of the present
`technology, a single central
`facility that is designed to function as a central repository of
`compressed voice data transported from a number of differ-
`ent origination telephones 10. It should be understood that,
`although a single origination telephone 10 has been illus-
`trated for exemplary purposes, such single telephone 10 is
`meant
`to represent a number of telephone instruments,
`which may be physically located either singularly or in
`groups at a number of different facilities at a number of
`different physical locations. In an alternative embodiment,
`central data center 110 may correspond to a central facility
`for a subset of different facilities or may correspond to a
`backup facility which mirrors or substitutes for a primary
`facility should the primary facility experience technical
`difficulties. Such technical difficulties may include, but are
`not
`limited to, system overload or system failure an/or
`localized loss of power and/or Internet or other operatively
`required interface. Central data center 110 may also function
`as a central control facility with functions corresponding to
`
`inmate and corrections facility account maintenance and
`supervision as well as other functions not specific or relevant
`to the presently disclosed technology.
`[0035] Central data center 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2
`corresponds to a facility including such as a representative
`terminal 210 that is functionally coupled to digital data/
`voice converter device 230 as well as a data storage device
`220. Central data center 110 is, as was discussed with
`reference to FIG. 1, coupled to the Internet 180 through
`bi-directional coupling mechanism 190, receives Voice over
`Ethernet through bi-directional coupling mechanism 100,
`and completes long distance calls through coupling element
`120. Within central data center 110,
`terminal 210 corre-
`sponds, in many respects, to an onsite version of worksta-
`tions 170, 170‘ discussed supra in that terminal 210 has at
`least all
`the capabilities of the workstations 170, 170‘.
`Terminal 210 is illustratively shown as a personal computer,
`however, such is purely for illustration as the terminal 210
`may be embodied as a personal computer, minicomputer, or
`mainframe computer with suitable control terminals or in
`any other form as may be desired or necessary such that,
`when coupled with other elements including, but not limited
`to the digital voice/data converter device 230 and storage
`device 220 at the central data center 110, has the capability
`to accomplish the desired functions of such as converting,
`storing, searching, retrieving, and playing back of com-
`pressed voice data. If additional functions as mentioned
`hereinabove relating to account management and other
`functions not directly related to the present technology are to
`be carried out as a part of the operations conducted at the
`central data center 110, additional computer capability may
`be required.
`[0036] With respect to the present technology, terminal
`210 works together with digital voice/data converter device
`230 and storage device 220 to provide the capability to
`interface either locally or over the Internet with remote
`workstations such as workstation 170 to provide searchable
`access to previously recorded or ongoing, real-time conver-
`sations. As previously noted, highly compressed conversa-
`tion data is stored in a related manner with identification data
`
`on the central data center’s storage device 220. Such storage
`may be, but is not limited to, a so-called relational database
`arrangement. As previously mentioned with respect to the
`workstations 170, 170‘, a web-based program running on the
`workstation allows an operator to query the database stored
`on storage device 220. Any results from such a query are
`presented to the operator and a selection may be made from
`those presented results. If the operator chooses to listen to a
`recorded conversation,
`the selected compressed data is
`passed from storage device 220 to the digital data/voice
`converter 230 which converts the compressed voice data
`into a “streaming” format and passes the converted voice
`data back out over the WAN to workstation 170‘ or over the
`
`Internet 180 to one or more requesting workstation(s) 170.
`Since this data flow to workstations 170, 170‘ is via the WAN
`or Internet, it should be apparent that the methodology of the
`present subject matter allows monitoring of previously
`recorded conversations at any of multiple locations where
`access to the WAN or Internet is available. In like manner,
`the present technology permits on-line, real-time monitoring
`of inmates conversations by authorized personnel from
`anywhere access to the Internet is available. Of course,
`appropriate coded/protected limits to such remote access
`may be used in combination with the present technology, as
`0007
`
`0007
`
`

`
`US 2005/0141678 A1
`
`Jun. 30, 2005
`
`desired. Such multiple location access to recorded or real-
`time conversations from world wide locations significantly
`improves law enforcement personnel’s ability to conduct
`investigations involving communications between inmates
`and those outside, or even within, a corrections environ-
`ment.
`
`a workstation coupled to said analog to digital converter
`and configured to access ongoing conversations.
`7. An audio recording system as in claim 6, wherein said
`wide area network is the Internet.
`
`8. An audio monitoring and recording system, compris-
`mg:
`
`[0037] Thus there has been described an apparatus and
`methodology for recording, storing, searching, retrieving,
`and monitoring telephone conversation voice and related
`data recorded and stored at
`locations remote from the
`
`origination and/or destination locations of the telephone
`calls. Moreover the disclosed apparatus and methodology
`permits searchable access to such conversations from mul-
`tiple remote locations either as previously recorded data or
`in real time.
`
`subject matter has been
`the present
`[0038] While
`described in detail with respect to specific embodiments
`thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art,
`upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may
`readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents
`to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present
`disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of
`limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude
`inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions
`to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to
`one of ordinary skill in the art.
`
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. An audio recording system, comprising:
`
`a telephone instrument located at a first location;
`
`an analog to digital converter, having an input and an
`output, said telephone instrument coupled to said input
`of said analog to digital converter; and
`
`a data storage device located at a second location physi-
`cally remote from said first location, said data storage
`device coupled to said output of said analog to digital
`converter, whereby conversation data from conversa-
`tions conducted by way of said telephone instrument
`may be recorded and stored at said second location
`physically remote from said first location.
`2. An audio recording system as in claim 1, further
`comprising:
`
`a wide area network coupled between said analog to
`digital converter and said data storage device.
`3. An audio recording system as in claim 1, further
`comprising:
`
`a data compressor coupled to said output of said analog to
`digital converter.
`4. An audio recording system as in claim 1, further
`comprising:
`
`a workstation coupled to said data storage device and
`configured to access recorded conversation data stored
`in said storage device.
`5. An audio recording system as in claim 4, wherein said
`workstation is coupled to said storage device via a wide area
`network, and wherein said workstation is configured to
`search accessed recorded conversation data.
`
`a telephone instrument located at a first location;
`
`an analog to digital converter having an analog input and
`a digital output, said telephone instrument coupled to
`said input of said analog to digital converter;
`
`a storage device coupled to said output of said analog to
`digital converter, said storage device being configured
`to store recorded conversation data files corresponding
`to said digital output of said analog to digital converter;
`
`a streaming converter coupled to said storage device; and
`
`a workstation coupled to said streaming converter,
`whereby audio originating from said telephone instru-
`ment may be monitored at said workstation.
`9. An audio monitoring and recording system as in claim
`8, wherein said streaming conver