Abstract: A digitally implemented central dictation system wherein users designated as dictators may input Voice Files for later retrieval and transcription by a second group of users designated as transcriptionists. A system Supervisor has the capability to monitor operation of the system and allocate system resources. The system further includes an optional Voice Mail capability.

Abstract: A shifter for shifting a first data word by a bit width which is specified by a second data word. The shifter provides a sign extension so that the shifter can be used for arithmetic shifts. The shifter includes a first inverter for inverting the bits of the first data word only when the most significant bit of the data word is a predetermined datum. The output from the inverter is shifted, using a shifter array, by a bit width specified by the second data word. The output from the shifter array is provided to a second inverter. The second inverter inverts the output from the shifter array only if the most significant bit of the first data word is a predetermined datum.