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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to dictate stations for central dictating systems
and, more particularly, to dictate stations that are used for entering
identifying information.
Central dictation systems are known wherein a central voice message store
receives messages dictated by system authors for subsequent transmission
to transcribe stations whereby those messages may be transcribed to
written, or "hard copy" form. One example of a central dictation system is
the Nucleus Central Dictation System, sold by Dictaphone Corporation. In
the Nucleus system, the central store is comprised of magnetic tape which
records, in analog form, messages which are dictated by system authors.
Recorded messages are directed by supervisory control to particular
transcribe stations.
Another example of a central dictation system is the Digital Express System
DX7000, sold by Dictaphone Corporation, which utilizes digital techniques
for converting dictated messages to digital form and then storing those
digitized messages on typical digital storage devices. Details of this
system are described in British Specification 2,201,863, published Sep. 7,
1988. Here too, stored messages subsequently may be reproduced and
directed to particular transcribe stations under supervisory control. In a
digital central dictation system, digital information characterizing each
message may be stored with that message, or in a separate storage device
or storage area and linked to that message. Such information typically
identifies the type of message which is dictated, the identity of the
author who dictated that message, and other parameters which are useful in
following (or tracking) the progress of the storage and transcribe
operations associated with that message. For example, the time of
dictation, the particular department of which the author is a member, and
other useful information may be generated either automatically, as when
the author operates his dictate equipment, or manually, such as may be
generated when the author operates a keyboard, keypad, or the like.
Many central dictation systems are installed in health care facilities. It
is common for users of those systems to dictate reports or memoranda while
viewing a patient's X-ray, observing a diagnostic test or the like. The
user often inputs information regarding the patient, such as an
identification number, by use of a keypad associated with the user's
dictate station. It would be desirable to provide a more convenient
mechanism for input of information via a dictate station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a combined microphone bar code sensor includes
a hand-held housing and a microphone input mechanism provided in the
housing for receiving voice signals and for generating electrical audio
signals in response thereto. The microphone bar code sensor also includes
a functional switch that is provided in the housing and is manually
operable to control dictation functions, including record, play, stop,
rewind and fast-forward. The microphone bar code sensor also includes a
bar code sensor mechanism that is provided in said housing and is for
optically sensing bar code indicia and generating electrical bar code
signals representative thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description, given by way of example, will best be
understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a central dictation system in which a
particular message may be transmitted promptly and directly to a desired
recipient;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing a message file used with the present
invention to indicate and transmit a priority message;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of apparatus used to transmit a priority message
to its recipient;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart representing automatic priority message transmission
to an unattended station; and
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a combined hand-held microphone and bar code
sensor that may be used in the system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a central dictation system which is adapted to receive
and store messages dictated by several authors having access to that
system and to selectively play back the stored messages to
transcriptionists for transcription to hard copy. The system shown in FIG.
1 also delivers to a voice mail system certain ones of the dictated
messages which are identified as having high priority for prompt
transmission to particular recipients, these messages being referred to
herein as "priority messages". Accordingly, a voice message central store
14 is adapted to receive voice messages which are dictated from any one of
several dictate stations, such as dictate stations 10-1, 10-2, . . . 10-8,
and to transmit selected ones of the stored messages to any one of several
transcribe stations 20-1, 20-2, etc. Central store 14 is coupled to the
dictate stations by way of a switching arrangement (not shown) and a
message analyzer 12 which is adapted to receive certain information from a
dictate station that is operated to communicate with the central store.
This information is compiled by the message analyzer to provide a voice
message file for each dictated message. For example, and as is relevant to
the present invention, message analyzer 12 is adapted to receive author
identifying data which identifies the author of a dictated message,
recipient identifying data which identifies the recipient, if any, of that
message, and message type data which represents the type of dictated
message, such as a report, a memorandum, a letter, etc. Other information
associated with the dictated message also is provided, either from the
dictate station or from internal programming of the message analyzer
(which, preferably, includes a microprocessor). Such other information is
not necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention and,
thus, in the interest of brevity, is not described.
Each dictate station may include voice signal transmit and reproducing
devices, such as a microphone and a loudspeaker, which may be incorporated
into a single handset, as well as control circuitry used to initiate
typical dictate functions, such as record, playback, fast forward, rewind,
cue, and the like. One example of such a handset is illustrated in FIGS.
5A and 5B. In addition, suitable manually operable devices, such as a
keyboard or, preferably, and as shown in FIG. 1, a keypad (for example, a
telephone-type keypad), may be provided at some or all of the dictate
stations for generating input data used to identify the recipient of a
message and the message type. Such keyboard or keypad also may be used to
identify the author of the message. However, in the preferred embodiment,
each dictate station is associated with a predetermined author identifying
code such that, when the dictate station is operated, that is, when it
seizes central store 14, that author identifying code is transmitted
automatically. Alternatively, the author identifying code is created
internally by the message analyzer. An example of a suitable dictate
station is found in the Connexions dictation system sold by Dictaphone
Corporation.
Central store 14 preferably is a digital storage device, such as a hard
disk drive, adapted to store voice message information in digital form.
Accordingly, since voice messages are produced as analog voice signals,
suitable analog-to-digital (A/D) converters are provided either at each
dictate station 10-1, . . . 10-8 or at message analyzer 12 to digitize the
voice message. The voice message file created by message analyzer 12 may
be stored in central store 14 or, alternatively (or in addition), in a
voice message file store whereat it is linked with its associated voice
message.
A message controller 16 is adapted to reproduce each voice message stored
in central store 14 and supply the reproduced voice message to a desired
one of transcribe stations 20-1, 20-2, etc. Although only two transcribe
stations are illustrated, it will be appreciated that several transcribe
stations may be used such that several stored voice messages may be
transcribed simultaneously. Message controller 16 may be included in a
supervisory control station operable by a supervisory operator to select
desired voice messages for reproduction and transmission to desired
transcribe stations. For example, depending upon the type of message which
is stored, the supervisory operator may determine that a particular
transcriptionist is best able to transcribe that message. Hence, under
control of the supervisory operator station, that message may be
reproduced and supplied to a temporary store associated with the
transcribe station utilized by the preferred transcriptionist.
Alternatively, message controller 16 may interact with the preferred
transcribe station to reproduce portions, or segments, of the message for
transcription. One example of the manner in which dictated messages are
stored and transcribed is found in the aforementioned DX7000 system.
FIG. 1 also illustrates priority message retrieval and transmission
apparatus, whereby a voice message stored in central store 14 and
identified as a priority message (or, alternatively, a voice message which
satisfies other predetermined criteria), is supplied to a voice mail
system for transmission thereover to a desired recipient. This priority
message communication apparatus includes a priority message controller 22,
a priority message store 24, voice mailboxes 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, etc. and
telephone dial-out circuitry 34. Priority message controller 22 is coupled
to message controller 16 and is adapted to receive information
representing which of the messages stored in central store 14 are priority
messages. Alternatively, the priority message controller may be supplied
with the voice message file created for each voice message stored in
central store 14 to determine whether the information contained in that
file satisfies certain predetermined criteria to designate a particular
message as a priority message. For example, if a voice message is
identified as a priority message, and if the author thereof is provided
with sufficient authorization to designate a message as having such
"priority", and if the recipient is sufficiently identified, the voice
message associated with the voice message file examined by priority
message controller 22 is designated a priority message.
Controller 22 is coupled to priority message store 24 which, in turn, is
coupled to central store 14. Controller 22 is adapted to transfer a voice
message which is designated as a priority message from the central store
to priority message store 24. In a preferred embodiment, the voice message
simply is written into the priority message store but is not cleared or
erased from central store 14. This permits the priority message to be
transcribed to hard copy as well as communicated promptly to its intended
recipient. Although not described in detail herein, it will be understood
that control data are transmitted between store 24 and controller 22 to
indicate when a priority message has, in fact, been transferred to the
priority message store and the location in which that priority message is
stored.
Priority message controller 22 also is coupled to a recipient look-up table
26 which is adapted to store communicating data associated with each
recipient capable of receiving priority messages. For example, look-up
table 26 may store the telephone number of each such recipient. In the
event that the voice message file examined by controller 22 does not
include the recipient's telephone number but does identify the recipient
(for example, either by name or by identity code), the missing telephone
number data may be retrieved from look-up table 26 and added to this voice
message file. Although not shown, a suitable display, such as a video
display, may be coupled to controller 22 for displaying at least certain
information contained in the voice message file. A supervisory operator
may observe this display to verify that the message file associated with a
priority message identifies the author of that message, that the author
has proper authorization to create "priority" messages, that the recipient
has been identified, that the communication information (e. g. telephone
number) of that recipient is identified and that the message type has been
identified. If any of these (or other) information segments is omitted,
for example, if the author has not supplied all of this information to
message analyzer 12, such missing information is indicated. Priority
message controller 22 is coupled to a keyboard 28 to permit the
supervisory operator to furnish such missing information. Thus, the
supervisory operator may complete a voice message file such that a
priority message may be transmitted promptly to its recipient.
Priority message controller 22 also is coupled to a delivery table 30 which
provides predetermined delivery information which may be established by
the supervisory operator or may be inherent in the voice mail transmission
system. For example, the delivery table may provide data representing the
number of times communication with a recipient should be attempted in the
event that the recipient does not respond to, for example, a telephone
call directed to his telephone station. The delivery table also may
provide information representing delay intervals which separate successive
communication attempts. For example, such delivery information may
represent that a recipient should be called every twenty minutes; and that
a predetermined number of attempts (e. g. ten) should be made before
terminating further attempts to transmit the priority message to that
recipient.
Voice mailboxes 32-1, 32-2, 33-3, etc. are coupled to priority message
controller 22 and are adapted to receive voice messages transferred
thereto from priority message store 24 for temporary storage until the
priority messages therein are transmitted to their respective recipients.
In one embodiment, each voice mailbox is associated with an individual
recipient, and each voice mailbox may store plural voice messages to be
transmitted to that recipient. In an alternative embodiment, each voice
mailbox may be shared with two or more recipients; and the priority
message destined for one such recipient will not be transmitted to any
other. For example, to access the voice message stored in such a voice
mailbox, the recipient will be required to furnish his identification
which, when matched to the recipient identifying information in the voice
message file associated with that voice message, the voice message will be
transmitted. In the absence of such a match, the voice message will not be
transmitted and, thus, only the proper recipient will receive that
message.
The voice mailboxes are coupled to output circuitry 36 which also is
coupled to telephone dial-out circuitry 34. This dial-out circuitry is
coupled to priority message controller 22 to receive communication data
needed, for example, to initiate a telephone call to a recipient. It will
be appreciated that the telephone dial-out circuitry is supplied with
information in the voice message file representing the recipient's
telephone number so as to initiate a dialing operation whereby a telephone
call is placed to that recipient. In one embodiment, telephone dial-out
circuitry 34 is used to initiate a dialing operation for each priority
message stored in a respective voice mailbox. As will be described below,
in the event that a priority voice message is not transmitted from a voice
mailbox to its recipient, priority message controller 22 functions to
supply another telephone number to telephone dial-out circuitry 34 to
initiate yet another dialing operation in an attempt to reach a different
recipient so as to transmit a priority voice message destined for that
recipient. Accordingly, the dial-out circuitry may be thought of as
scanning all of the priority message files stored in priority message
controller 22 for the purpose of initiating telephone dial-out operations
for each voice message. The foregoing process is repeated for those
recipients that do not respond to a telephone call initiated by telephone
dial-out circuitry 34.
Output circuitry 36 is coupled to a telephone line and functions to detect
when a recipient answers a telephone call initiated by the telephone
dial-out circuitry. In response thereto, the voice message destined for
that recipient and stored in the recipient's voice mailbox is transmitted;
and priority message controller 22 is apprised of successful transmission.
The priority voice message then may be cleared from the recipient's voice
mailbox. In addition, the voice message file associated with that voice
message may be updated to indicate successful transmission of the priority
message, the time at which that message was transmitted, and other data
which may be useful in management reporting (e.g. the number of telephone
calls that were placed to the recipient until he answered).
The manner in which the system illustrated in FIG. 1 operates now will be
described. Let it be assumed that an author at dictate station 10-1
operates the dictate station to transmit a voice message for
transcription. Message analyzer 12 detects that dictate station 10-1 is
operated and, depending upon predetermined system criteria, begins to
compile a voice message file. For example, the identity of dictate station
10-1 is entered; and if this dictate station is located within a
particular department of a business organization, the identity of that
department also is entered. Assuming that the dictate station is provided
with a keypad, the author may operate that keypad to furnish additional
data, such as author identifying data, message type data, and the like.
Preferably, this additional data may be entered by the author at any time
during dictation. Keypad signals, such as dual-tone multiple frequency
(DTMF) signals may be transmitted as data signals; and these DTMF signals
are easily discriminated by message analyzer 12 and used to compile the
voice message file. Actual voice messages are stored in voice message
central store 14.
At, or subsequent to, the completion of a message, message controller 16
establishes communication between any transcribe station 20-1, 20-2, etc.
and central store 14. In one embodiment, the voice message file compiled
by message analyzer 12 is supplied to message controller 16; and portions
(or all) of the message file are transmitted to the transcribe station
whereat they may be used to provide a hard copy of, for example, the
author identification, the message type, the department identification,
and the like. The voice message file also may be used by the message
controller and other supervisory control systems (not shown) to provide a
log of dictated and transcribed messages. Message controller 16 also
interacts with the transcribe station so as to retrieve a voice message
from central store 14 and transmit that voice message to the transcribe
station whereat it is transcribed. Of course, the usual transcribe
functions such as PLAY, REWIND, FAST-FORWARD, and the like may be
executed.
Let it now be assumed that the author at, for example, dictate station
10-8, dictates a priority message which should be transmitted promptly to
a particular recipient. The operation described above in connection with a
message dictated for transcription is carried out, whereby message
analyzer 12 compiles a voice message file and whereby the dictated message
is stored in central store 14. In addition, it is assumed that the author
operates his keypad to transmit priority identifying data and recipient
identifying data to the message analyzer. In an alternative embodiment,
message analyzer 12 may be such that when a particular recipient is
identified, as by the operation of the author's keypad, the message being
dictated is designated a priority message. Other criteria may be used to
identify a message as a priority message. For example, all messages
dictated by a particular author may be designated "priority" messages. In
any event, when a voice message is identified as a priority message, its
voice message file is supplied as a priority message file from message
controller 16 to priority message controller 22. At this time, the voice
message itself remains in central store 14.
Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic representation of a suitable voice message
file 40 is illustrated. The voice message file includes data segments, or
fields, the information for which is supplied by a dictate station, by a
keypad operated by an author and by predetermined system criteria. For
example, data segment a represents the author identification; and this
identification data may be supplied automatically when a particular
dictate station seizes central store 14. In that case, each dictate
station is assumed to be dedicated to a particular author. Alternatively,
the author may operate his keypad so as to manually enter this author
identification data.
Data segment b identifies the type of message which the author is
dictating. For example, the keypad may be operated by the author to
indicate a letter, report, memorandum, etc.
Data segment c identifies the recipient, if any, of the dictated message.
Typically, recipient identification data is entered by the manual
operation of the author's keypad if this message is destined to a
particular recipient. For example, a memorandum may be dictated,
transcribed and forwarded to the recipient whose identity is represented
by data segment c. For the purpose of the present invention, the recipient
identification indicates the particular recipient to which a priority
message is destined.
Data segment d indicates whether the voice message linked to this message
file is a priority message. For example, a priority flag may be set or
reset to provide an appropriate indication of whether the voice message is
a priority message. Data segment d also is provided with telephone data
which represents the telephone number of the recipient of the voice
message. This telephone number data is used by telephone dialout circuitry
34 to dial the indicated telephone number so as to establish communication
with the recipient identified by data segment d and thereby transmit to
that recipient a priority voice message. To accommodate automatic dialing
systems, the recipient telephone number data includes the usual codes
which may be used by, for example, PBX equipment to dial the telephone
number of virtually any telephone located anywhere in the world.
Data segment e identifies the location in central store 14 in which the
voice message linked to message file 40 is stored. It will be appreciated
that data segment e provides the link between the message file and the
stored voice message. This data segment facilitates ready access to the
stored voice message.
Data segment f identifies the department of a business organization of
which the author is a member. It will be recognized that data segment f is
optional and, if used, department identification may be entered manually,
as by the operation of the author's keypad, or automatically.
Message file 40 may be provided with additional data segments g, h, etc.
providing further information useful in monitoring the overall central
dictation system. For example, such additional data segments may identify
a transcriptionist who transcribes the voice message, the time at which
the voice message is dictated, the time at which transcription begins, the
time at which transcription is completed, the length of the voice message
and the status of the condition of that message (e.g. whether it is in the
process of being dictated, whether dictation is complete, whether it has
been assigned to a particular transcriptionist, etc.). Other such data may
indicate whether a priority message has been transferred to its recipient,
the time of such transmission, the number of attempts made before
transmission was successful, etc.
If data segment d of message file 40 indicates that the voice message is a
priority message, this message file is duplicated for priority message
controller 22. FIG. 2 indicates a supervisory control 42 included in (or
coupled to) the priority message controller; this supervisory control
being adapted to sense missing or incomplete data segments which may be
completed by a supervisory operator. Supervisory control 42 is coupled to
a suitable display 44, to a keyboard 46 and to tables 48. Keyboard 46 may
be similar to aforementioned keyboard 28; and tables 48 may comprise
tables 26 and 30, discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 1. Data
segments a, b, c, etc. are scanned by supervisory control 42; and display
44 provides a visual display of the message file. Thus, the supervisory
operator is apprised of any data segments which are missing or incomplete;
and keyboard 46 may be operated to supply the missing information. In one
embodiment, if a recipient is identified by data segment c, but if the
telephone number of that recipient is not entered in data segment d,
tables 48 may be accessed in response to the sensing of missing
information to retrieve the telephone number of the identified recipient.
Of course, if such telephone number information is not stored in tables
48, keyboard 46 may be operated by the supervisory operator to enter this
information in message file 40. Similarly, other variable data segments
may be supplied with information by the supervisory operator. Supervisory
control 42 scans successive priority message files for this purpose.
Another function carried out by supervisory control 42 is to identify those
voice messages designated as priority messages, but whose authors, as
represented by data segment a, are not authorized to dictate priority
messages. A supervisory operator may, nevertheless, confirm that this
voice message should be transmitted as a priority message. Still further,
supervisory control 42 may be operated to enter or modify communication
delivery information stored in, for example, delivery table 30. For
example, the supervisory operator may actuate keyboard 46 to provide
information representing the number of times a telephone call is to be
placed to a recipient before further attempts are discontinued, and
information representing the delay between successive attempts to place
that call. As mentioned above, this communication delivery information is
utilized by telephone dial-out circuitry 34.
If message file 40 is complete, or once missing or incomplete information
is furnished by the supervisory operator, priority message controller 22
sends a suitable signal to message controller 16 for reading the voice
message stored at the central store location identified in data segment e,
which voice message then is written into the same (or corresponding)
location in priority message store 24. For convenience, data segment e of
message file 40 stored in priority message controller 22 is updated to
identify the location in which the priority voice message is stored in
priority message store 24. Then, this voice message is supplied to a
particular one of voice mailboxes 32-1, 32-2, etc., to which the recipient
identified in data segment c has access.
Referring to FIG. 3, the manner in which telephone dial-out circuitry 34
operates to establish communication with the intended recipient of the
priority voice message stored in a voice mailbox now will be described. It
is assumed that dial-out circuitry 34 includes a dialer 52, a counter 56
and a timer 58; and it is further assumed that dialer 52 is responsive to
particular data segments of each of several message files 40. These data
segments, to be described, and the message files in which they are
contained are represented in FIG. 3 as priority message files 54.
Dialer 52, which may be similar to many conventional dialing systems that
are commercially available, receives from priority message files 54 the
telephone number of a remote telephone station to be dialed and the time
(e.g. the time of day) at which the next preceding dialing operation was
carried out. It is assumed that the preceding dialing operation did not
succeed in establishing communication with the recipient. That is, it is
assumed that a previous telephone call was not answered. The priority
message files also supply to the dialer an indication of the number of
prior unsuccessful attempts that had been made.
Based upon this information supplied to dialer 52 from the priority message
files, the recipient's telephone number is dialed. Dialing signals, which
may be tone or pulse signals, are transmitted over the telephone line to
the remote telephone station. If the remote telephone is answered, an
answer detector 60 updates priority message files 54 such that this
message file no longer is supplied to the dialer. That is, it is assumed
that, upon answering the outgoing telephone call initiated by dialer 52,
there no longer is a need to effect subsequent attempts to establish
communication with the recipient.
However, if the outgoing telephone call is not answered, for example, after
a predetermined time duration or after a predetermined number of ringing
signals is sensed, dialer 52 terminates this outgoing telephone call and
counter 56 is incremented. The incremented count is stored in this
priority message file as is the time at which this attempt was made to
communicate with the recipient. If this updated count of unsuccessful
dial-out attempts is equal to a predetermined count, further dial-out
attempts for this particular priority message are not initiated. Assuming,
however, that this number of unsuccessful telephone calls has not been
reached, as timer 58 is updated to represent the present time of day, this
updated time is compared to the time of last dial-out stored in the
priority message file. When the difference between these times is equal to
or greater than the predetermined delay interval between successive
dial-out attempts, dialer 52 is actuated once again to initiate yet
another telephone call to this recipient.
It is appreciated that priority message controller 22 may be used to
compare the present time of day to the time representing when the last
dial-out attempt was made.
Let it be assumed that during one of these dial-out operations, the
recipient answers the telephone call. As mentioned above, answer detector
60 inhibits further attempts to telephone this recipient, unless this
recipient is identified in a new priority message file. For example,
message file 40 may include a fail/success flag which is set when a
telephone call to this recipient should be initiated and reset to prevent
further telephone call attempts if a call is answered. In addition, answer
detector 60 triggers the voice mailbox in which the priority voice message
intended for this recipient is stored, such as voice mailbox 32-1. The
voice message then is read from this voice mailbox and transmitted to the
recipient by way of suitable transmitter circuitry 62. The transmitter
circuitry preferably includes digital-to-analog converters, modulators and
impedance matching circuits by which an audible voice message is generated
in response to the digital voice message stored in voice mailbox 32-1. The
transmitter circuitry may be common to several voice mailboxes and
operated when a voice message is transmitted from one of those voice
mailboxes to the called recipient.
In one embodiment of this invention, answer detector 60 includes verifying
circuitry to verify that a telephone call is answered by the recipient to
which the priority voice message is destined. For example, a synthesized
voice message may be transmitted to the remote answering party to apprise
him of the fact that a message awaits retrieval and to invite him to enter
a suitable identification code, as by operating the keypad at his
answering telephone. When the answer detector senses that the proper
identifying code has been entered at the remote telephone, voice mailbox
32-1 then may be triggered.
In another embodiment, when a telephone call to a remote telephone station
is answered, suitable indications, such as predetermined tone signals, may
be transmitted, apprising the remote party that a priority message is
stored in his voice mailbox and is awaiting retrieval. In this embodiment,
the telephone call to the remote telephone station then is terminated.
Hence, to retrieve the priority voice message from his voice mailbox, the
recipient must initiate a telephone call to the voice message system which
then operates in a manner similar to conventional voice mail systems to
transmit the voice message stored in his voice mailbox.
It is appreciated that the system illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended to be
used with particular, authorized users. It is further appreciated that the
recipient of the priority message may be one of these users. If the
recipient is not situated at the telephone station which is called by
dialer 52, it is likely that he will not receive any priority message
destined to him, unless he accesses the voice message system. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, an incoming call detector 64 is coupled to the
telephone line to detect incoming telephone calls that may be placed by
users of the system. For example, the incoming call detector may be
responsive only to predetermined telephone numbers known only to system
users. The incoming call detector responds to an incoming telephone call
to connect the remote calling party to priority message controller 22.
When this telephone number is called, the remote user enters suitable
identifying data, such as by operating the keypad at his telephone set, in
response to a synthesized announcement transmitted to him, inviting such
operation.
Priority message controller 22 responds to this user identification to scan
priority message files 40 to determine whether the identification of the
remote user matches the recipient identification in data segment c and, if
so, whether the priority flag in data segment d is set. Thus, the priority
message controller determines whether a priority voice message is awaiting
retrieval by the remote calling party. If so, the voice mailbox in which
this priority message is stored is triggered to transmit that message to
the calling party.
Similarly, if a user of one of the dictate stations seizes central store
14, message controller 16 scans the message files linked with the voice
messages stored in the central store; and if any stored voice message is a
priority message intended for this user, it is played back to him via the
dictate station.
In a preferred embodiment, the recipient of a priority message is provided
with telephone apparatus of the type known as the Connexions telephone
system sold by Dictaphone Corporation. This telephone instrument includes
a voice recorder, such as a magnetic tape recorder for recording analog
voice signals, and a visual display for displaying text messages. Such a
telephone instrument may be operated in an unattended mode to receive and
record voice messages transmitted thereto from any one of the voice
mailboxes shown in FIG. 1.
The manner in which telephone dial-out circuitry 34, or the manner in which
the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 cooperates with such a telephone
instrument to transmit a priority voice message thereto now will be
described in conjunction with the flow chart shown in FIG. 4. This flow
chart represents the operation of a microprocessor incorporated into or
used with the communicating apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
It is assumed that the telephone number of the recipient for which a
priority message is destined has been dialed; and that this telephone call
is answered. The microprocessor routine illustrated in FIG. 4 commences
with instruction 72, whereupon preface tones and a warning message, such
as a synthesized voice message indicating that a priority message is to be
transmitted to the recipient, are sent over the telephone line to the
answering station. Inquiry 74 determines if reply tones are received from
the called station. If the called station is not an unattended Connexions
telephone instrument, or compatible telephone device, reply tones are not
received. In that event, inquiry 74 is answered in the negative; and the
routine advances to instruction 88 to disconnect the telephone connection.
However, if the called telephone station is an unattended Connexions
telephone instrument, that instrument responds to the preface tones to
return reply tones to the communicating apparatus of FIG. 1 (or FIG. 3).
It will be appreciated that the synthesized voice message transmitted by
instruction 72 serves to apprise an operator who may answer the unattended
Connexions telephone that a voice message is awaiting retrieval.
If inquiry 74 is answered in the affirmative, the routine advances to
instruction 76 to transmit a turn-on signal to the remote telephone
station. This signal is of a predetermined tone (or combination of tones)
which turns on the voice recorder at the Connexions telephone instrument.
The tone (or tones) also functions to activate the display at the
telephone instrument. Thereafter, instruction 78 is executed to transmit
display data to the called telephone. This data is transmitted as a
combination of tones representing ASCII characters corresponding to
particular data segments included in a voice message file. For example,
the display data provides indications of a priority message, of the author
of the voice message to be transmitted, of the date and time of
transmission, and of other information which may be useful to the
recipient, such as the type of message, the department from which the
message originated, etc.
It is expected that this display data is received by the telephone
instrument, resulting in a corresponding text display to apprise the
recipient of the priority message. The routine then inquires, at 80, if
acknowledgement signals have been received from the remote telephone
instrument, acknowledging successful receipt of the display data. If this
inquiry is answered in the negative, the routine returns to instruction
76; and the microprocessor cycles through the loop formed of instructions
76 and 78 and inquiry 80. However, if the displayed data is received
successfully and if acknowledgement signals are returned to the
communicating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, inquiry 80 is
answered in the affirmative.
Thereafter, instruction 82 is carried out to transmit the voice message
stored in the voice mailbox to the remote telephone instrument. It is
expected that this voice message is received and recorded by the
unattended telephone instrument. At the completion of the voice message,
which may be indicated by the transmission of suitable end tones, it is
expected that acknowledgement signals will be returned by the remote
telephone instrument to indicate that the voice message has been
successfully received and recorded. Accordingly, the routine advances to
inquiry 84 to sense if such record acknowledge signals have been received.
If they are, instruction 88 is carried out to release the telephone line
now that a successful recording of the priority message has been made at
the called telephone instrument.
However, if inquiry 84 is answered in the negative, that is, if record
acknowledge signals have not been received, inquiry 86 is carried out to
determine if a predetermined number of voice message retransmissions have
been made. If not, instruction 82 is repeated, whereupon the voice message
which had been transmitted previously from the voice mailbox is
retransmitted.
The microprocessor cycles through the loop formed of instruction 82 and
inquiries 84 and 86 until either a record acknowledge signal is received
from the remote telephone instrument or the predetermined number of voice
message retransmissions has been made. If either inquiry 84 or inquiry 86
is answered in the affirmative, the communication apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 1 (or FIG. 3) is disconnected from the telephone line.
Turning now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, one embodiment of a suitable handset that
may be used at the dictate stations shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated. FIG.
5A is a side view of a hand-held microphone; and FIG. 5B is a bottom view
thereof. The illustrated handset 100 is comprised of a housing 102 which
contains electrical circuitry coupled to message analyzer 12 (FIG. 1) by
suitable electrical connectors shown generally as connectors 104. Housing
102 includes an upper surface 106 and a lower surface 108, the latter
being illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 5B.
As is apparent from FIG. 5A, housing 102 contains a microphone; and
although not shown, a suitable aperture is provided i | | |
