AU618695B2

AU618695B2 - Communication system

Info

Publication number: AU618695B2
Application number: AU68575/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Eric Ronayne Tuohy
Original assignee: ASSMANN AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ASSMANN AUSTRALIA PTY Ltd
Priority date: 1987-08-14
Filing date: 1990-12-27
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-12
Also published as: AU6857590A

Description

II~LII~ ll~ lllP 35788DIV HKS:LL COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Form Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

61869 FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application No Lodged Complete Application No Specification Lodged Published o 44 o 00 o 0 0 4 0000i Priority: Related art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT 0 0 00 00 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 000 0000 6 4 Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: ASSMANN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 16 Sultram Place, Adelaide, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia ERIC RONAYNE TUOHY Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Care of COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: COMMUNICATION SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 This invention relates to a data transmission arrangement and in particular to a method of information transmission.

The problems to which this invention are generally directed relate to the difficulty of providing on a continuous basis repeated information in message form where such information is to be provided over a long period of time and if desirable at minimum cost.

In a supermarket for instance it may be desirable to provide a repeated 1 0 message of perhaps one or two minute duration describing specials or bargains available in such a supermarket. Prior art devices suitable for such an information service have significant problems. In the past endless tape S, recordings have been used but these have the problem that such devices wear out and whereas the target life proposal such as the one to which the 5 present invention is directed may be continuous repetition over many months 0o 0 of perhaps a two or three minute message, mechanical devices such as 00 e o° continuous tape recordings may not be expected to last more than a few OQ 4 days without a breakdown.

In a further proposed system it may be desirable to provide information about a locality into which a motor vehicle is driving by means of a continuously .0 transmitted broadcast of a message which may be only of two or three o1o minutes duration, but once again with the problem of mechanical wear on an S0 0 endless tape system, such an arrangement could not be expected to be 0 '25 relatively maintenance free.

O

0 0 This present invention is specifically directed therefore to a method of o0 providing a continuous message and a system for providing such a 04 continuous message.

It will be understood that herein solid state memory refers to solid state semiconductor memory.

The present invention therefore is directed to an information provision system for a particular locality including a radio frequency transmitter acting at a power to encompass the locality, solid state semi-conductor memory means to store information in the form of a message or messages to be provided in the locality, the message or messages being a digitized form or forms of a corresponding audio message or messages, control means to repetitively select the information from the memory means and decoding means to convert the information retrieved to an audio modulated signal for transmission by the radio frequency transmitted to the locality wherein the solid state semi-conductor memory means is an addressably accessible memory and the system includes an input means for the remote addition, amendment or deletion of information from the memory means, said input means being adapted to communicate with a coding means for the conversion of an audio message or messages to a corresponding digitized message or messages and said input means being adapted to send signals to the control means to control the storage of the digitized message or messages in the solid state semi-conductor memory.

0 In a preferred embodiment the input means for the remote addition, o -,15 amendment or deletion of information to the memory means is comprised of a plug-in microphone which connects to a microphone adapter jack.

0 0 0" 00 The plug-in microphone may be of conventional type having a press-to-talk button to activate a record function.

00 Alternatively the plug-in microphone is of the type often used with Dictation machines being comprised of a hand-piece and a cable which connects with 0 0 the microphone adapter jack. The hand-piece is provided with controls for a variety of functions. These functions include playback, record, stop/start, o ,5 pause, rewind, sensitivity and step to start.

00 Activation of the playback function causes any recorded messages to be °o0, played through a monitor loud speaker either provided within the information 0 0, provision system or provided remotely.

Activation of the record function permits the storing of a new message in the solid state memory by speaking into the microphone hand-piece. By combination of the playback and record functions an operator may add, amend or delete information from the solid state memory.

The stop/start control will stop or start the playback or record functions, pause will temporarily halt the record function and rewind will rewind the message when in the playback mode.

These controls allow the operator complete flexibility in the recording of a message in the solid state memory and avoid any necessity to speak continuously for the duration of the available recording time. It will be appreciated that the provision of such a flexible facility for the recording and editing of messages stored in the solid state memory gives the information provision system extremely broad scope of application and user-friendly operation.

1 0 The sensitivity control adjusts the recording sensitivity of the microphone and step to start causes playback from the start of a message.

o 0' The plug-in microphone is also provided with a light emitting diode (LED) indicator which provides an indication of the recording time available. In one SdO .1 5 embodiment the LED will glow continuously during recording and flash when seconds of recording time remains. In another embodiment the LED Oo. o flashes during recording with the frequency of the flashing providing an oo indication of the amount of recording time remaining.

Alternatively there is provided an information provision system for a particular locality including a radio frequency transmitter acting at a power to O encompass the locality, solid state semi-conductor memory means to store So° information in the form of a message or messages to be provided in the locality, the message or messages being a digitized form or forms of a So °5 corresponding audio message or messages, control means to repetitively ;oo select the information from the memory means and decoding means to convert the information retrieved to an audio modulated signal for transmission by the radio frequency transmitted to the locality wherein the solid state semi-conductor memory means is an addressably accessible memory and the system includes an input means for the remote addition of information to the memory means, said input means being adapted to communicate with a coding means for the conversion of an audio message or messages to a corresponding digitized message or messages.

3 5 The means for the remote addition of information may be a tape recorder or a CD player or indeed any audio device capable of converting audio signals to electronic signals which will connect with an audio adapter jack. In this case however, all the functions available on the plug-in microphone may not be available.

In both of the above embodiments the transmitter is automatically disabled upon insertion of either a microphone to the microphone adapter jack or an audio playback device to the audio adapter jack.

In preference the addressably accessible memory is random access memory.

1 0 The means to select a message for transmission may include a further clock arrangement such that at different times of day, different messages may be transmitted. Alternatively the means to select a message may include means o .a S to receive an instruction transmitted from a remote location and means to o 0 select an appropriate message depending on the instruction. The means to 5 select one message from another may comprise a telephone, radio or O. induction loop system link from a remote location.

S o Although the invention has been described in terms of either a microphone adapter jack or an audio adapter jack it will be appreciated that these are not mutually exclusive and an information provision system may be provided with both.

oo In addition the information provision system may be provided with one or more other facilities. Read only memory may be added which has a Station 2 5 Identification message stored within, which may be selected to be transmitted prior to the commencement of each message. Alternatively the Station Identification message may be transmitted at predetermined times Sao, during a day by reference to a clock means. Further, Service Information t ,Tones may be provided at the beginning and/or end of each message.

SIn a further alternative there is provided an information provision system for a particular locality including a radio frequency transmitter acting at a power to encompass the locality, a solid state semi-conductor memory means to store information in the form of a message to be provided in the locality, the message being a digitized form of a corresponding audio message, clock means to repetitively select the information from the memory means and means to convert the information retrieved to an audio modulated signal for transmission by the radio frequency transmitted in the locality.

6 The invention may also be said to reside in a method of providing continuously repeated information for transmission in a specific locality comprising the steps of storing the information, being a digitized form of a corresponding audio message, in a solid state semi-conductor memory means, accessing the stored information at intervals selected by a clock means, converting the stored information into a form for transmission by a radio transmission and transmitting the information.

It will be seen that by this invention there is provided a method and means of storing a message and continuously transmitting the message over a long period of time without mechanical failure because in effect there may be no 00 moving parts in the arrangement because the critical portion, the storage of 0° information, is by means of a solid state memory which is not subject to the same problems of wear and mechanical failure that mechanical means may o 0 0 have.

0 0 o oGoo° This then describes the invention in general terms, to assist in better understanding the invention it will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment with the aid of a drawing.

S In the drawing: i FIG 1 shows an embodiment including a random access memory which 'o may be reprogrammed and selected.

0 0 0 i In Fig. 1 there is used a dynamic random access memory 1 to store a number SOl of messages which can be reprogrammed as required. A microprocessor controller 2 controls the unit and when a suitable signal is provided from the S 30 dynamic random access memory 1 a signal may be sent to a radio )transmitter 3 and out through aerial 4. A monitor 5 and loud speaker 6 are provided to monitor the output signal.

The microprocessor controller 2, used to select the memory locations in the dynamic random access memory 1 for selection of one signal or another may have local control 7 or remote powered hard wired control 8 or remote control by telephone or radio 9.

Clock means may be provided to continuously transmit a repetitive message.

Because the dynamic random access memory can be changed in situ there is provided an arrangement also for reprogramming with alternative messages. A remote message input and output monitor 10 includes an output amplifier 11 which enables remote monitoring of a signal being selected and an input amplifier 12 allows input signals to control the microprocessor controller and also for the input of new messages which are decoded through the coding/decoding and filter arrangement 13 and by 1 0 means of the microprocessor controller 2 stored in the dynamic random access memory 1.

A microphone adapter jack is provided which is connected to the remote message input and output monitor 10. Messages and signals may be input 1 5 via a microphone being plugged into the microphone adapter jack. The plugin microphone is of the type used with Dictation machines and provides the facilities of playback, record, stop/start, pause, rewind, sensitivity and step to start.

An audio adapter jack is also provided which allows the input of messages from an audio playback device such as a tape recorder or a CD player. Use of the audio adapter jack does not allow for control of the microprocessor.

The radio frequency transmitter is automatically disabled upon connection of 5 a microphone to the microphone adapter jack or an audio playback device to the audio adapter jack.

Alternatively local microphone 14 may provide an input signal through preamplifier 15 which is again coded and transmitted through the microprocessor controller to the dynamic random access memory 1.

The dynamic random access memory may be a sufficient size to store a number of messages and the microprocessor controller by control from remote or local control may select a suitable message for transmission through the radio transmitter.

The arrangement of Fig. 1 may be such that during transmission of a first message from the dynamic random access memory a further message may C^tll _Illi _I I 8 be in the process of being encoded and stored on the dynamic random access memory.

This then generally describes the invention the subject of the present application.

4 4 0 0 0.0oo0 0 00 o o So o 0 4,a

Claims

1. An information provision system for a particular locality including a radio frequency transmitter acting at a power to encompass the locality, solid state semi-conductor memory means to store information in the form of a message or messages to be provided in the locality, the message or messages being a digitized form or forms of a corresponding audio message or messages, control means to repetitively select the information from the memory means and decoding means to convert the information retrieved to 1 0 an audio modulated signal for transmission by the radio frequency transmitted to the locality wherein the solid state semi-conductor memory means is an addressably accessible memory and the system includes an input means for the remote addition, amendment or deletion of information o from the memory means, said input means being adapted to communicate 5 with a coding means for the conversion of an audio message or messages to °4b I a corresponding digitized message or messages and said input means I being adapted to send signals to the control means to control the storage of the digitized message or messages in the solid state semi-conductor memory.

2. An information provision system as in claim 1 wherein the input means for the remote addition, amendment or deletion of information to the memory o o o means is comprised of a plug-in microphone which connects to a microphone adapter jack. R

3. An information provision system as in claim 2 wherein the plug-in microphone is comprised of a hand-piece provided with means for 0o controlling one or more functions.

4. An information provision system as in claim 3 wherein the functions are chosen from playback, record, stop/start, pause, rewind, sensitivity and step to start as herein defined.

An information provision system as in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the plug-in microphone is provided with a light emitting diode which gives an indication of the mode of operation of the information provision system and further gives an indication of the amount of solid state semi-conductor memory means remaining available for storage of information.

6. An information provision system for a particular locality including a radio frequency transmitter acting at a power to encompass the locality, solid state semi-conductor memory means to store information in the form of a message or messages to be provided in the locality, the message or messages being a digitized form or forms of a corresponding audio message or messages, control means to repetitively select the information from the memory means and decoding means to convert the information retrieved to an audio modulated signal for transmission by the radio frequency 1 0 transmitted to the locality wherein the solid state semi-conductor memory means is an addressably accessible memory and the system includes an input means for the remote addition of information to the memory means, Ssaid input means being adapted to communicate with a coding means for the conversion of an audio message or messages to a corresponding digitized 1 5 message or messages. S 4

7. An information provision system as in claim 6 wherein the said means o ~for addition of information is a tape recorder.

8. An information provision system as in claim 6 wherein the said means for addition of information is a compact disk player. S

9. An information provision system as in claim 1 or 6 in which the addressably accessible memory is random access memory. 2, o o

10. An information provision .3ystem for a particular locality including a radio frequency transmitter acting at a power to encompass the locality, a solid state semi-conductor memory means to store information in the form of a message to be provided in the locality, the message being a digitized form of a corresponding audio message, clock means to repetitively select the information from the memory means and means to convert the information retrieved to an audio modulated signal for transmission by the radio frequency transmitted in the locality.

11. An information provision system as in claim 10 wherein the memory means is an erasable programmable read only memory.

12. A method of providing continuously repeated information for ~-L _I 111_ 1 1 I transmission in a specific locality comprising the steps of storing the information, being a digitized form of a corresponding audio message, in a solid state semi-conductor memory means, accessing the stored information at intervals selected by a clock means, converting the stored information into a form for transmission by a radio transmission and transmitting the information.

13. A radio transmitter including solid state semi-conductor memory means to store a message to be transmitted, the message being a digitized 1 0 form of a corresponding audio message, clock means to initiate a regular repetitive retrieval of the message from the memory means and an audio modulation means to convert the retrieved message into a radio frequency transmittable signal. 1 5

14. The radio transmitter as in claim 13 wherein the solid state semi- S conductor memory means is selected from one of a read only memory, a programmable read only memory, a non-volatile random access memory, a S dynamic random access memory, or other addressably solid state memory. Dated this 27th day of December 1990. ASSMANN AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO.