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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An automatic electronic communication system comprising in combination:
(a) a message composing and sending station including a first transducing
means, such as a microphone, for transducing sounds of speech to
electrical signals,
(b) first electronic circuit means including electronic computing means for
receiving, processing and analyzing signals output by said first
transducing means in a manner to recognize signals generated when select
words of speech are spoken into said microphone, said first circuit means
being operable to generate control signals in accordance with the words
spoken into said microphone,
(c) second electronic circuit means connected to receive signals output by
said first electronic circuit means for generating code signals which vary
in accordance with the speech signals recognized by said first electronic
circuit means,
(d) third electronic circuit means including a memory connected to receive
signals output by said second electronic circuit means and to record said
signals therein,
(e) control means for causing said memory to generate selected of the
signals recorded therein on an output,
(f) means controlled by a person speaking into said microphone for
activating said control means upon completing a message to cause said
memory to generate the complete message in the form of digital speech
signals on said output,
(g) electrically operable driving means connected to receive signals
defining information generated by said second electronic circuit means,
(h) intelligible indicating means connected to said driving means for
intelligibly indicating information representative of the words of speech
spoken into said microphone so as to permit a person composing messages to
monitor the contents of messages generated by speaking into said
microphone,
(i) a communication network connected to the output of said memory for
receiving signals reproduced from said memory,
(j) a plurality of terminal circuits of said communication network, each
containing a respective recording means for message signals received
thereby,
(k) switching means in said communication network,
(l) code responsive means in said network connected to control the
operation of said switching means,
(m) said second electronic circuit means being operable, in response to the
speaking of select words of speech spoken into said microphone, to
generate code signals to which said control means for said switching means
at said network is responsive to properly operate said switching means of
said network and to cause messages transmitted to said network to be gated
through said switching means to selected of said receiving circuits of
said network.
2. A system in accordance with claim 1 including means for digitizing
analog signals of select speech spoken into said microphone and recording
the digital signals so generated directly in said memory in a selected
order along with the code signals generated on the output of said second
electronic circuit means.
3. A system in accordance with claim (1), said intelligible indicating
means comprising an electronic display means and means controlled by the
person speaking select speech into said microphone for causing said
display means to display a select portion of the message recorded in said
memory.
4. A system in accordance with claim 1 including digital-to-analog
conversion means connected to the output of said memory, a speaker
connected to receive analog signals generated by said digital-to-analog
conversion means to generate sounds of speech and means controlled by the
person speaking into said microphone for selectively reproducing message
signals recorded in said memory and applying same to said
digital-to-analog conversion means to permit such person to listen to a
select portion of a message recorded in said memory.
5. A system in accordance with claim 1 including means at select terminal
circuits of said communication network operable to receive messages
transmitted on said communication network thereto for generating and
transmitting feedback signals to the message sending station indicative
that a connection has been established and means at said send station for
receiving feedback signals generated on the connected circuits and
indicating the establishment of the connection.
6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means indicating the
establishment of a connection between the sending station and a select
terminal circuit of said communication network includes means for querying
said memory to cause it to generate and transmit the body of a message
through said communication network to said selected terminal circuit.
7. A system in accordance with claim 1 including means at select terminal
circuits of said communication network, which are operable to receive
message transmitted thereto on said communication network, for generating
and transmitting a feedback signal to the message sending station
indicative that a complete message has been received thereby and means at
said sending station for receiving said feedback signal and intelligibly
indicating the complete receipt of the body of a message by said select
terminal circuit and its recording thereat.
8. A system in accordance with claim 1 including a speaker at said message
composing and sending station and means controlled by a person speaking
select speech into said microphone at said sending station for selectively
reproducing signals recorded in said memory and converting same to analog
speech signals and applying said analog speech signals to said speaker to
cause it to generate sounds of words of speech of the message signals
recorded in said memory to allow said person to monitor the information
recorded in said memory.
9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first electronic
circuit means is operable to recognize select speech signals of speech
spoken into said microphone which is indicative of the start of a message,
the destination of a message, at least a portion of the body of a message
and the end of a message and said second electronic circuit means is
operable to generate code signals indicative of the start of a message, at
least a portion of the body of a message, a number defining the
destination of a message for use by said code responsive means of said
communication network in establishing a select circuit connection with a
select terminal circuit thereof and said sending station, and the end of a
message.
10. A system in accordance with claim 9 including electronic circuit means
for recording a plurality of code signals generated by said second
electronic circuit means when respective select words of speech are spoken
into said microphone and the speech signals output by said microphone are
analyzed by said first electronic circuit means, which plurality of code
signals are indicative of a plurality of terminal circuits of said
communication network adapted to receive a single message, means for
recording said plurality of code signals in the sequence in which they are
generated in said memory, means for sequentially reproducing said
plurality of code signals from said memory and applying same to said
communication network to effect the establishment of a plurality of
communication links to respective of said plurality of terminal circuits,
and means for causing said memory to generate code signals defining the
body of a message a plurality of times, each time after a communication
link has been established between said sending station and a select
terminal circuit and transmitting said body of message defining code
signals on each of said communication links to respective of said terminal
circuits when it is connected to said sending station.
11. A communication system comprising in combination with a communication
network having a plurality of communication terminals, each containing
means for generating and sending messages with at least certain of such
terminals containing memory for receiving, recording and intelligibly
indicating the contents of received messages, the improvement comprising:
(a) a microphone at a first of said terminals, into which microphone words
of speech defining control and message information may be spoken to
generate output control and speech signals,
(b) first electronic computing means connected to receive the signals
output by said microphone, electronically process and analyze same,
(c) said first electronic computing means including:
first electrical circuit means for analyzing the signals output by said
microphone when first selected speech indicative of the start of a message
generating operation are spoken into said microphone and generating a
first control signal,
second electronic circuit means for analyzing the signals output by said
microphone when second selected speech is directed into said microphone
which is indicative of a selected terminal of said system to which a
message is desired to be transmitted and generating selected communication
control signals,
third electronic circuit means for processing signals output by said
microphone when selected speech is directed at said microphone which is
indicative of the body of a message to be transmitted to said second
terminal and generating digital signals defining said message,
fourth electrical circuit means for processing and analyzing signals output
by said microphone when selected speech is spoken into said microphone
defining the end of a message which is generated when selected speech
defining a body of the message is spoken into said microphone,
(d) communication control computing means connected to receive
communication control signals output by said second electronic circuit
means and applying said control signals to effect a communication link
between said first and second terminals of said communication network,
(e) means operable after a communication link has been established between
said first and second terminals of said network for addressing said memory
means of said first terminal and causing signals recorded therein to be
reproduced therefrom and to be transmitted on said communication link from
said first terminal to said second terminal and to be recorded at the
recording means of said second terminal.
12. A communication system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said third
electronic circuit means is operable to digitize the speech signals output
by said microphone when said selected speech defining the body of a
message is directed at said microphone.
13. A communication system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said third
electrical circuit means includes a speech recognition computer for
recognizing selected words of speech spoken into said microphone and
generating coded electrical signals indicative of such selected words of
speech and said second terminal contains synthetic speech signal
generating means connected to the receiving means thereof and operable to
generate selected synthetic speech signals in response to the code signals
received from said first terminal and generated when the words of speech
spoken into the microphone of said first terminal and defining the body of
the message are analyzed and recognized by the speech recognition computer
thereat.
14. A method of generating and communicating information comprising:
(a) speaking first select speech into a microphone located at a first
communication terminal of a communication network and generating first
speech signals on the output of said microphone,
(b) computer processing and analyzing said first speech signals and
generating a first control signal,
(c) employing said first control signal to condition a first memory to
record information output by said microphone,
(d) speaking second select speech into said microphone,
(e) computer processing and analyzing the signals output by said microphone
when said second speech is spoken and generating communication control
signals defined by the content of said selected second speech,
(f) recording said communication control signals,
(g) speaking third select speech defining a message to be communicated into
said microphone,
(h) computer processing the signals output by said microphone when said
third speech is spoken and generates digital speech signals,
(i) recording said digital speech signals in said memory,
(j) speaking fourth select speech into said microphone defining the end of
the message to be communicated,
(k) computer processing and analyzing the signals output by said microphone
when said fourth select speech is spoken and generating an end-of-message
indicating signal,
(l) employing said end-of-message indicating signal to activate a
communication computer,
(m) operating said communication computer to cause it to effect the
establishment of a communication link between said first communication
terminal and a second communication terminal of said communication
network, and when said communication link has been established,
(n) thereafter reproducing said digital speech signals recorded in said
memory and transmitting same on the communication link established by said
communication computer to said second communication terminal, and
(o) recording said digital speech signals received by said second terminal
in a second memory thereat.
15. A method in accordance with claim 14 which includes also applying said
first control signals to activate an intelligible indicating means to
indicate to the person speaking into said microphone that said first
control signal has been generated and said memory has been conditioned to
record data thereafter.
16. A method in accordance with claim 14 which includes applying said
communication control signals to activate an intelligible indicating means
to indicate to the person speaking into said microphone that said
communication control signals have been generated.
17. A method in accordance with claim 14 which includes applying said
communication control signals to control an intelligible indicating means
to indicate the identification of said second communication terminal
defined by the communication control signals generated as the result of
speaking said second select speech into said microphone.
18. A method in accordance with claim 14 which includes intelligibly
indicating to the person speaking into said microphone the message defined
by said digital speech signals to permit said person to determine that
such message has been correctly composed.
19. A method in accordance with claim 18 which includes speaking selected
further speech into said microphone and generating a correction control
signal for selectively effecting erasure of said memory.
20. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said intelligible
indication is effected by visually displaying characters and generating
synthetic speech defining one or more select portions of the message
composed by speaking select speech into said microphone.
21. A method in accordance with claim 14 which includes speaking select
speech into said microphone for generating a plurality of communication
control signals operable to effect, when selectively applied to said
communication network, the establishment of a plurality of communication
links between respective of a plurality of communication terminals of said
network and said first communication terminal, and sequentially generating
respective of said plurality of communication control signals on said
communication network to establish respective links to each of said
plurality of communication terminals, and after the establishment of each
communication link, reproducing said digital speech signals from said
memory and transmitting same on each communication link established
between said first communication terminal and each of said plurality of
communication terminals after it is operatively connected to said first
communication terminal.
22. A method in accordance with claim 14 which includes speaking fifth
select speech into said microphone defining a portion of a message to be
communicated, computer processing and analyzing the speech signals output
by said microphone when said fifth speech is spoken and generating address
signals and applying said address signals to address a memory containing
information recorded therein defining a number of portions of messages
such as code signals of words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs so as to
cause said memory to reproduce coded electrical signals of at least one
message portion recorded therein, and applying said coded electrical
signals reproduced from said memory in which said digital speech signals
are recorded so as to effect the recording of messages therein composed of
digital speech signals generated by speaking select message defining
speech into said microphone and one or more words, phrases, sentences or
paragraphs defined by signals reproduced from said latter memory.
23. A method of generating and communicating information comprising:
(a) speaking first select speech into a microphone and generating first
speech signals on the output of said microphone,
(b) computer processing and analyzing said first speech signals and
generating a first control signal,
(c) applying said first control signal to condition a memory to record
information,
(d) speaking selected second speech into said microphone and generating
second speech signals,
(e) processing said second speech signals and generating first destination
defining control signals,
(f) recording said destination defining code signals in said memory,
(g) speaking third select speech into said microphone defining the body of
a message to be transmitted and generating message speech signals on the
output of said microphone,
(h) processing said message speech signals and generating digital message
speech signals,
(i) recording said digital message signals in said memory,
(j) thereafter selectively reproducing said destination code signals from
said memory and applying same to effect a control function including the
establishment of a communication channel between said memory and a select
terminal of a communication system,
(k) when such communication channel is established, reproducing said
digital message signals from said memory and transmitting same on the
established communication channel to said select terminal, and
(l) recording said digital message signals in a memory at the selected
terminal of said communication system. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of message composing and transmission,
particularly under the control of one or more electronic computers in a
manner to simplify communication between individuals, such as executives
of corporations, although it is not limited to such personnel. In its
ultimate form, not only are messages composed solely by speaking select
speech into a microphone, but additional information relating to the
identity of the sender or person composing the message or messages and
routing or switching instructions are similarly generated. A speech
recognition computer is employed which recognizes speech signals generated
on the output of a microphone and generates coded electrical signals which
are applied to compose and/or record the message and define or compose
additional messages or portions of the signals which define the message,
to identify the sender or sending station, the recipient or recipients and
their locations as well as switching signals which are employed to
automatically route or transmit the message over a switching network to
the one or more intended recipients thereof, thus eliminating the need to
send and receive printed matter or to operate a manual device, such as a
keyboard or typewriter. Auxilliary communication functions, such as
immediate indication that the message has been transmitted and received in
its entirety, the activation of a warning device, display or verbal means
for indicating that the message is recorded at the receiving end and
awaiting reply, an indication as to its importance or priority, time of
message transmission and receipt, etc. are also effected by means of
select speech and computerized speech signal processing and analysis.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The prior art consists of facsimile systems requiring typewritten or hand
written message composition to generate the hard copy to be used in
message transmission, keyboard generated and transmitted messages and
personal telephone transmitted spoken messages which are magnetically
recorded by a telephone answering machine. All of such prior art systems
require substantial physical effort on the part of the persons composing
the message to operate the keys of a keyboard and/or dial a telephone
number.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system and method for communicating,
particularly between individuals or individuals and groups, wherein human
physical effort is reduced or minimized. In particular, the invention is
directed to electronic means for recognizing when select words of speech
are spoken into a microphone and generating either or both message
defining signals and message transmission control signals as a result of
such electronic or computer analysis. In addition to reducing human effort
in effecting message composition and transmission, the system and method
provides means for substantially reducing the time it takes to compose and
transmit messages and to determine if the messages are properly received
and recorded.
Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide a system
and method for automatically composing messages in accordance with select
speech spoken into a microphone by a person seeking to compose one or more
messages.
Another object is to provide a system and method for effecting both the
composition and automatic transmission of messages, utilizing select
speech to both compose and control the transmission of messages.
Another object is to provide a system and method for communicating between
individuals or an individual and a group wherein the recipient or
recipients of a message or messages are not immediately available to
receive and read or listen thereto, and wherein both message composition
and transmission and controlled by means of select verbal speech.
Another object is to provide a system and method for composing messages and
effecting the automatic transmission of messages by speaking select speech
into a microphone and computer processing and analyzing the speech signals
output by such microphone, wherein instructions relating to both the
composition and transmission of messages may also be automatically derived
by speaking select speech into the same microphone.
Another object is to provide a system and method for composing messages
formed of digitized speech signals recorded in a memory for automatic
transmission, wherein such automatic transmission is effected and
controlled by signals generated when select words of speech are spoken
into a microphone.
Another object is to provide a system and method for composing messages
formed of digitized speech spoken into a microphone and coded electrical
signals reproduced from a memory in response to speaking select words of
speech other than that defining the digitized speech into such microphone.
Another object is to provide a system and method for communicating by
composing and transmitting messages on an automatic communication network,
such as an automatic telephone switching system wherein speech alone is
employed to both compose and effect the automatic transmission of
messages, thereby eliminating the need to operate a keyboard.
Another object is to provide a system and method for composing and
automatically transmitting messages with minimum human effort and minimum
delay ordinarily experienced when messages are composed and transmitted by
keyboard operation.
Another object is to provide a system and method for composing messages and
effecting their automatic transmission to select individuals or locations
in an automatic switching network wherein auxilliary functions relating to
message transmission and receipt are controlled by speaking select speech
into a microphone.
Another object is to provide a system and method for automatically
composing and transmitting messages from a central message forming station
which is accessible by users of the system to both compose and transmit
messages and receive messages.
Another object is to provide a message composing system and method
employing both manually operated switch means and automatic speech
recognition computing means to effect correct message composition.
Another object is to provide a message composing system and method in which
data generated and recorded may be easily monitored in response to select
speech commands.
Another object is to provide a message composing system and method in which
composed message data is automatically displayed as it is generated.
Another object is to provide a message composing system and method in which
message data may be selectively erased, corrected or changed in a rapid
manner in response to select speech commands spoken by the person
composing the message.
Another object is to provide a message composing system and method in which
pictorial data may be incorporated into a message or provided therewith to
be transmitted to a select recipient.
Another object is to provide a message composing system and method in which
select message data is available for local monitoring and monitoring from
a remote location in response to the generation of select control signals.
Another object is to provide an automatic information generating and
transmission system which may be operated by speech commands to generate
and automatically transmit select information derived from a memory on a
communication network.
With the above and such other objects in view as may hereafter more fully
appear, the invention consists of the novel circuitry and arrangements of
components, and methods, as will be more fully described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings but it is to be understood that changes and
modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the
invention as claimed without departing from the nature and spirit of the
invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic message composing and
transmission system, and
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the message
composing and transmission system of FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1 is shown an electronic system 10 for generating and transmitting
data in the form of messages, which are composed when a person speaks
select words of speech into a microphone 11, wherein such select speech
and the resulting speech signals output by the microphone are computer
processed and analyzed to provide such communication variables as the body
of a message or a portion or portions thereof, codes defining
identification of the message, a code or codes defining the person
originating or generating the message, the recipient or destination of the
message, the routing or path of communication for the message, the time
and date the message was originated and/or transmitted, the location of
the sending station for the message, message priority and/or
classification, the required reply or feedback information relating to the
receipt of the message as well as code signals which are operable to
compose or assemble the entire message, etc.
The output of microphone 11 is amplified by an amplifier 12, the output 13
of which is passed through a switch 14 to a selected of a plurality of
circuits which are employed in composing information or messages, in
temporarily storing message components and in effecting the electrical or
light wave transmission of messages on a switching network to one or more
selected terminal circuits or receivers thereof.
Switch 14 may comprise a manually operable, sound speech activated switch
with more than two outputs, which is operated either by hand and/or
signals generated by a speech recognition computer 19 which recognizes
select speech signals generated on the output of a transducer or
microphone 11 when a person, about to compose a message, speaks a select
word or words. The speech analyzing computer 19, which may comprise speech
signal recognition electronic circuitry associated with a microelectronic
computer chip, such as the General Instruments Corp. SP-1000, decodes and
analyzes speech signals output by the microphone 11 and passes the
resulting recognition code signals to a digital computer 32 having and
input-ouput port 14A, an output of which is applied to control the
operation of switch 14 in the mode of operations illustrated in FIG. 1.
One output 15 of switch 14 passes the analog speech signals to an
automatic gain controlled amplifier 15A, the output of which is connected
to an analog-to-digital converter 17 having an output connected to the
input of speech analyzing computer 19, which analyzes the digitized speech
signals received for automatic recognition purposes.
A second output 16 of switch 14 is connected to a second analog-to-digital
converter 18, which digitizes the received speech signals defining the
body of a message and passes same through an input-output port 20 for a
memory 24, such as a solid state random access memory or RAM, in which the
body or one or more select portions of the message are temporarily stored
until the entire messages including control codes signals therefore such
as switching signals for use in routing the message to one or more
receivers or recipient terminals, have been generated in sequence and
stored in such memory.
Recognition control signals generated by the computer 19 when it
automatically recognizes digitized speech signals generated when select
speech is spoken into the microphone 11, are passed therefrom to address
two memories 21 and 22 to cause them to generate information defining code
signals in sequence which are passed to memory 24. Memory 21 is addressed
to generate select messages or parts of messages, such as words, phrases
or sentences in accordance with the addressing code generated on the
output of computer 19, and such information is passed on output 218 to
memory 24 through a data bus 25 and recording input 25A as a pulse train
or trains. A multitude of messages of any length may be recorded in memory
21 which may comprise an electrically or otherwise erasable memory such as
an EEPROM, which is programmable by selectively operating a keyboard or
other means to simplify the generation of messages or message components.
For example, one or two select words of speech, such as a number or
plurality of numbers spoken in a given sequence into the microphone 11,
may be employed to generate code signals defining the body or portions of
a message defining select words phrases and sentences and/or to effect
reproduction of same from memory 21.
Memory 22 contains a plurality of auxiliary codes defining one or more
variables as described, such as routing or switching signals, message
recipient identification signals, etc., which are selectively reproduced
therefrom and are recorded in the RAM 24 in sequence with the other
signals generated. A fourth memory or computer 26, which is connected to
be selectively activated by signals output by computer 19, retrieves codes
defining such variables as time and date, etc. from a calendar/clock
signal generator 27, which codes are transmitted to and recorded in RAM
24. Upon receipt of speech signals generated when an end-of-message word,
such as the word "stop" or a combination of words which are not normally
spoken, are spoken into the microphone, speech analyzing computer 19
generates a control signal on an output 25B, which control signal is
sensed by computer 32 and is utilized to generate sequential addressing
signals for addressing the memory 24 so as to clock out the message
recorded therein on an output 25B which is connected through a data bus 25
to a communication network 50, such as an automatic telephone switching
system.
To permit the person composing messages to monitor the information
generated when select speech is spoken into the microphone 11 and the
speech signals output thereby are electronically recognized, such as the
information defining the body of the message and the auxiliary information
which includes routing and destination codes, a display 40, such as a
character writing cathode ray tube or solid state LCD display, is
provided, which is controlled to display one or more lines of characters
defining the information which is stored in memory 24. Display 40 is
controlled by a display driver 38 which receives signals output by the
speech recognition computer 19 and/or the memory 24 as the latter is
automatically queried by signals generated by computer 32. If an error is
visually discerned, the operator may effect complete erasure of the memory
24 or the select erasure of select codes or portions of messages recorded
in such memory, by manual means, such as by selectively operating the keys
of an encoded keyboard 31 and/or by speaking select words of speech into
the microphone. In the latter means for correcting errors, coded signals
output by the speech analyzing computer 19 are employed to effect such
function.
Speech recognition by means of the electronic speech signal recognition
computer 19 and auxiliary control means, may also be employed to change
the auxiliary codes as well as the data or message signals by effecting
erasure of all or selected portions of the signals which are stored in
memory 24 in accordance with erasure control signals generated when select
words of speech are spoken into the microphone 11 and are electronically
recognized. Speech recognition computer 19 contains circuitry, or is
connected to suitable external logic switching circuits, which may be
defined by or provided in the computer 32 which is operable to generate
code signals for controlling such functions as (a) the detection of select
portions of messages or message codes which are recorded in memory 24, (b)
control message erasure or portions thereof such as recordings of select
words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs or other data defining portions
of the message; (b) rearranging select portions of the message or message
elements; (c) adding new codes to selected locations of the message or
messages, etc.
System 10 may also be supported in a portable housing, wherein the
output.sup.25B of memory 24 is connected to activate a speaker or tone
generator 45 which may be acoustically coupled to a telephone handset or a
microphone of a modem 45M. Thus the system may be made portable to permit
the user to generate and prepare messages while away from his office or
place of work and to transmit same via telephone to any telephone terminal
in an automatic telephone switching system by manually dialing the desired
number or by using the switching codes generated by speaking select speech
into the microphone 11 to effect such automatic phone line connection. The
system 10 may thus be used to effect automatic telephone line connections
between two telephone terminal circuits by speaking one or more select
words into the microphone 11, electronically recognizing the speech
signals generated to automatically query the memory 21, causing a select
telephone switching code to be generated on the output of such memory and
converting such code to a tone code in a tone code generator 42 which is
connected to an output or outputs of memory 21. By acoustically coupling
the output of such tone generator to a telephone microphone or handset,
the tone signals generated may be applied to the telephone line and
switching system for effecting the automatic connection of the memory
terminal or junction, with another terminal or junction in the switching
network.
While the digital computer 32 may contain electronic circuits for
generating digital synthetic speech signals of select words of speech
defining all or one or more portions of the body of a message when select
speech is spoken into the microphone 11 and recognized by the speech
signal recognition computer 19 which applies select coded control signals
to generate such select synthetic speech signals, an auxilliary synthetic
speech generating computer and memory 46 are shown connected to data bus
25 for receiving input control signals generated on the outout of the
computer 32 for generating select speech signals on an output thereof.
Such synthetic speech signals may be applied to effect one or more of
several functions, one of which is to generate sounds of select words of
speech on the output of the speaker 45 to permit the person operating
system 12 to receive select instructions from the computer 32 relating to
message generation, transmission and receipt. A second function is to
provide select synthetic speech signals defining all or one or more
portions of a message on the input to the message composing memory, RAM 24
in accordance with the commands or speech spoken into the microphone 11. A
thrid function of the speech signal generator 46 is to provide speech
signals on the input to the modem 45M to which the speaker 45 is coupled,
which latter signals do not form part of the composed message but provide
auxilliary data or instructions to the recipient of the message, such as a
verbal indication of its availability or importance.
Also provided in the system 10 is a receiver 47, which may be part of the
modem 45 or the speaker of a telephone handset, which is coupled to a
microphone 48 for receiving and transmitting one or more coded electrical
signals or tones from the terminal circuit to which the output of system
10 is connected, to the computer 32 for effecting feedback control, such
as the generating of signals defining the message or body of the message
and end-of-message signals after the connection has been established. The
output of microphone 48 is connected to an amplifier and transmitter 49
which is shown connected directly to the digital computer 32 and/or to an
intermediate code responsive circuit or relay 49R which responds to
feedback code signals received by the receiver 47 and generates a code
signal which is applied to an input to the computer 32.
Although not shown, an address circuit or device may be disposed between
the output of digital computer 32 and the message composing and storage
memory 24 to permit address signals generated by such computer when select
keys of the keyboard 31 are activated and/or generated as select codes on
the output of the speech recognition computer 19, to be applied to effect
the reproduction of all or select portions of the message signals recorded
in memory 24 and their application to display driver 38 for display such
selectively reproduced data for selective monitoring by the operator of
the system, such as the person composing the message or another person
seeking to monitor the message or portion thereof recorded.
Select keys of keyboard 31 may be activated to effect message editing,
correction and erasure as well as the generating of select portions of the
body of the message with keyboard generated code signals and/or signals
derived from one or more of the auxilliary memories, such as memories 21
and 22 or one or more additional memories (not shown) which may comprise
one or more RAM memories or recorders containing selectively reproducible
words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs or pages of message information
which are so selectively accessible and operable to apply the selectively
reproduced signals to the message composing memory 24. Coded control
signals output by speech signal recognition computer 19 when select speech
is spoken into microphone 11 and recognized thereby may also be employed
to address such memory or memories to reproduce select message information
therefrom and apply same to be recorded in memory 24 as described in the
composition of messages.
While a decoder 28 is shown connecting the output of computer 32 to various
components and subsystems of the system 10, it may be replaced by a
junction if decoding means is provided with each port controller and the
display driver 38.
Also shown in FIG. 1 is a connection between the data bus 25 and an output
of the terminal circuit of system 10 to the terminal network switches 50
of an automatic switching system 52 such as an automatic telephone
switching and connection system. Notation 53 refers to a connection
established between the automatic switching system 52 and a select remote
terminal circuit 54 thereof, such as the telephone terminal circuit of the
recipient of the message composed by the operator of system 10. A receiver
55 receives the first part of the composed message which includes a query
code which is applied to a code responsive tone or code generator 56 which
transmits a tone or code on the connected circuit back to the sending
station which is transmitted on the data bus 25 to the computer 32 which
controls memory 24 to reproduce the remaining portion of the message
including the body of the message after the initial portion or portions
thereof have effected the switching functions necessary to effect the
connection to the one or more receiving stations. A memory or recorder 57
at the receiving station 54 records the body of the message and any
auxilliary message signals, such as a flag signal or signals employed to
activate a display or warning device that the message has been received
and recorded.
It is also noted that, while microphone 11 may comprise a conventional
microphone connected to a computer terminal which includes computers 19
and 32 as well as the other circuit elements and subsystems illustrated in
FIG. 1 or modifications thereto as described, such microphone may also
comprise, or be supplemented with, the microphone or mouthpiece of a
conventional telephone. If a suitable modem is employed to which such
telephone microphone and its speaker is coupled, then speech signals
generated by a person speaking into the microphone or mouthpiece, of any
remote telephone which is connected to such modem by dialing or other
means may be employed, as described, to provide coded control signals when
select speech signals are recognized by computer 19 for controlling
computer 32 to effect select message composition and transmission to any
other select terminal or recipient in the system as well as the select
reproduction of the message or messages in the memory 24 generated by the
same or another person at the location of system 10 or at any other remote
location which is similarly connected to the terminal containing system 10
when message generating and transmission signals are so generated when
select speech signals are received thereby.
In the flow diagram illustrated in FIG. 2, flow control of the electronic
message composing and forwarding system 10 starts at step 100 when the
operator of the system either speaks a select word or words of speech into
the microphone or manually closes the start switch. System variable and
processor start-up is accomplished at step 101. Operational flow proceeds
to step 102 where new variables associated with the message to be
composed, such as the time or length of the message, location of a message
in memory, priority or importance of the message, time and date of
composition of the message, deadline or time in which a response or reply
is required, programming of a speech signal generating computer or loading
of its memory with signals relating to a speech look-up table, etc.
Control thereafter passes from step 102 to 103 at which latter step
monitoring is automatically effected of the code and control signal
generating subsystems such as the speech recognition computer, the
keyboard, if utilized, to detect their outputs, whereupon a timer is set
and control passes to step 105 where code or speech signals defining the
body of a message, command and routing codes are digitized and entered in
memory to compose the entire message. The inputs to such memory are
constantly monitored at step 106 which, if detected, results in resetting
the time at step 107. If so reset, logic flow resumes at step 105 whenever
an input activity is sensed. If no input activity is sensed at step 106,
control, passes to step 108 where the count of the timer is checked to
detect if it has run out. If the timer has not completed its cycle,
control returns to step 106 where the outputs of the speech recognition
computer and the keyboard are sensed. Whenever output and input activity
are not sensed during a complete timed cycle, flow passes to step 109 at
which the input message is parsed into segments defining routing, message
composition, identification of sender and message recipient, etc. Such
parsing may be accomplished by the computer when it detects key words or
by means of special syntatical structures particular codes forming select
parts of the message selectively reproduced from the memory. Control next
passes from step 109 to 110 where the selectively generated message is
displayed or is generated as audible speech from speech signals generated
on the output of a synthetic speech signal generator | | |
