Abstract: A multi-stage data logging system comprising a telecommunications stage for receiving, processing, and compressing data from one or more input channels, a recorder stage for storing said data to a memory device, a distribution stage for retrieving said stored data and distributing said data to one or more output channels, and a plurality of interface paths linking said three stages to one another. Different stages of the system can be located wide distances apart and the interface paths linking the three stages can be automatically switched to achieve fault tolerance of the system.

Abstract: The proceedings of a business meeting are recorded on a portable digital audio recorder. The resulting digitized speech signals are uploaded to a personal computer which is part of a data communication network. Users of the network may arrange to access the uploaded digitized speech signals for downloading to the user's location. The downloaded digitized speech signals are audibly reproduced at the location of the requesting user.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a telephone switching environment. In a preferred embodiment the system and method construct a call record for each telephone call; receive data regarding telephony events; match a received telephony event with a call record; update the matching call record based on the received telephony event data; and combine the updated call record with data indicating the location of recorded audio data for the segment of the call, to generate a master call record representing the lifetime of the telephone call. Additionally, the system and method are capable of assembling and playing back segments of telephone calls using the recorder locations described in the master call record for each telephone call, and of using the master call record to display a graphical representation of the telephone call.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a telephone switching environment. In a preferred embodiment the system and method simultaneously monitor both an SMDR link and a real-time CTI link, gather information about calls from both sources, and combine gathered information into a single data model of the telephony activity. A server is provided which in a preferred embodiment comprises two main modules: a translation module and a message router module. Several translation modules can be used—one for each PBX interface or vendor API layer. The server accepts data from a PBX or similar equipment in a telephone switch environment, and can use both real-time CTI communications links and asynchronous information sources such as the Station Message Detail Recording (SMDR) interface. The server then translates and combines the various types of data into a unified, normalized format.

Abstract: A portable sound recording device includes a microphone, a speaker and recording/playback circuitry connected to the microphone and speaker. The recording/playback circuitry includes a recording medium such as a removable solid state memory card. A control circuit controls operation of the recording/playback circuitry on the basis of input signals generated by a user via an operating switch array. The switch array includes a record switch. If the record switch is actuated for only a brief period of time, a record-lock mode of operation is implemented. If the record switch is actuated for a longer period of time, a momentary-record mode is entered which lasts only as long as the record switch remains in an actuated position.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a telephone switching environment. In a preferred embodiment the system and method identify telephone call segments that relate to one telephone call and construct a data representation of a lifetime of the telephone call, using data regarding telephony events associated with the telephone call segments of the telephone call. The system and method are also capable of using the data representation to display a graphical representation of a lifetime of a telephone call.

Abstract: A sound recording system includes a hand microphone with a plurality of operation switches mounted on the hand microphone. The switches include a record switch. The system also includes a sound recording device which is connected by a signal path to the hand microphone and records sound information generated at the hand microphone. Control circuitry included in the hand microphone and/or in the sound recording device controls operation of the sound recording device on the basis of input signals generated by the user via the operating switch array. If the record switch is actuated for only a brief period of time, a record-lock mode of operation is implemented. If the record switch is actuated for a longer period of time, a momentary-record mode is entered which lasts only as long as the record switch remains in an actuated position.

Abstract: A central dictation system includes a central server computer and a plurality of voice input stations connected to the server computer. Speaker-dependent speech recognition capabilities are provided at each voice input station, and any authorized user may use any station. When a user logs on to one of the stations, acoustic reference files to be used in recognizing the speech of the user are downloaded from the server to the station onto which the user has logged on. The down-loaded acoustic reference files are used to perform the speech recognition at the voice input station. A high bandwidth signal generated at the voice input station and used for speech recognition processing is transcoded at the input station to form a low bandwidth speech signal. The low bandwidth speech signal and the text document resulting from the speech recognition process are uploaded to the server computer.

Abstract: A portable digital audio recorder provides a first set of control or editing options with respect to a first category of voice data files stored in the recorder, and provides a different set of control or editing options with respect to a second category of voice data files stored in the recorder. The recorder may also be conveniently shared among a number of users and adapts various operating parameters to the preferences of the current user.

Abstract: This invention relates to dictation systems that utilize cordless telephones. The cordless telephone generates audio that is received by a dictation system. The handset of the cordless telephone has a record control switch and a review/play switch thereon that control the sending and receiving of audio signals to and from the dictation system. A PBX can be connected to the base and with the dictation system so that the individual using the cordless phone is able to perform dictation activities with a plurality of dictation systems.

Abstract: A modular digital recording system that records audio on digital audio tapes provides redundancy and the ability to record audio while listening to portions of audio that had been recorded on the DAT. The system uses a hard disc that receives audio for recording simultaneously with the DAT. When one wishes to listen to a voice message, one can activate the hard disc to listen to a particular message while the DAT is still recording. The system is modular so that the capacity can be expanded as required. The system includes a LAN adapter so that the system can provide networking access.

Abstract: Machine recognition of isolated word utterances is carried out by applying time-indexed feature vectors to binary decision tree classifiers. A respective classifier is provided for each target word in the vocabulary of words to be recognized. Determinants for the nodes in the classifier tree structure are formed, during a training process, as hyper-planes which perform a "mean split" between the centroids of target word and non-target word classes of feature vectors assigned to the respective nodes. The process of training the machine recognition system is facilitated by storing node-assignment data in association with training data vectors. The assignment of training data vectors to sub-nodes proceeds on a level-by-level basis in the tree structure.

Abstract: An interface chip is capable of receiving requests from two processors and coordinating the flow of the data therebetween. The chip functions as a dual port controller for interaction of associated RAMs and processors of a voice processing system. A plurality of interfaces of the instant invention can be placed in communication with a host computer (PC) of a voice processing system that determines the priority of requests that are received from units of the system. The interface circuits are in communication with the host computer for the purpose of accepting requests in sequence and outputting data over a bus. The host computer is in communication with a RAM interface of each chip that interfaces local peripheral board processor through a dual port RAM which resides on the peripheral board. The interface chip contains the circuitry that creates communication with the resident RAM.

Abstract: A digital voice processing circuit board having use in a voice processing system wherein voice processing functions are run in software. This application of software allows a modular structure since the application software resides in boards that are coupled to a host computer. With this structure, the software can be updated as required and the capacity of the system can be expanded readily to meet increased needs. The digital voice processing board has an interface chip to which random access memories are connected for temporary storage of data and storage of the operating code for the voice processing card. The interface is in communication with an application processor which runs the application programming and database management. The application processor is in communication with and controls a pair of signal processors which are in communication with a time division multiplexer chip which in turn is in communication with the bus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method have been conceived for using a digital audio tape (DAT) in an audio logger for the purposes of storing and retrieving audio data. This is accomplished in a manner such that the data is received and recorded in a time related manner. Provision is made for accommodating the transfer drive rate of the DAT through use of a buffer between the signal processor of the logger and the DAT. In addition, the method of storing the data results in greater use of the available space on the DAT as the DAT tape only writes for those periods when audio is present on a channel.